Adani Ports signs pact with Port Marseille Fos to boost IMEC trade corridor
The collaborative effort between APSEZ's port, Mundra Port, and Marseille Fos will result in the establishment of a green maritime corridor connecting the two entities.
Photo Credit: Adani Ports & SEZ
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) announced on Wednesday that it has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of Marseille Fos, France’s maritime hub. The agreement strengthens the operationalisation of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
The MoU, signed during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, boosting a deepening strategic partnership between New Delhi and Paris. It aims to establish a robust trade ecosystem aligned with the broader vision of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union.
Under the terms of the agreement, the two entities will collaborate to develop a green maritime corridor linking APSEZ’s flagship Mundra Port in Gujarat with Marseille Fos.
This initiative focuses on sustainability and innovation, with specific plans to cooperate on port digitalisation by creating smart-port platforms to streamline logistics, sustainability through the implementation of low-carbon bunkering, alternative fuels, and shore power supply, and security by enhancing cybersecurity frameworks for maritime trade.
On the eastern end, APSEZ’s ports at Mundra and Hazira already serve as the multimodal logistics hub connecting South Asia to West Asia. The addition of Marseille Fos strengthens the western European gateway, adding approximately 70 million tonnes of capacity and extending the corridor’s reach deep into the European hinterland.
Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director & CEO of APSEZ said, “At APSEZ, our ports in Hazira and Mundra on India’s western coast have already established a seamless pathway across the first and middle legs of the corridor”.
“With this MoU with the Port of Marseille Fos in France, we have now successfully connected the final leg to Europe. This partnership will significantly accelerate the exchange of information and materials among all participating nations, further strengthening economic cooperation and supply-chain resilience,” he added.
Beyond logistics, the MoU includes a commitment to joint promotional activities. Both parties plan to position the IMEC route as a viable and efficient alternative trade link connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe through global trade events and business engagements.