At a high-level roundtable in New Delhi, Union Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India’s leadership role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). He described IMEC as a modern Silk Route, enhancing trade, cultural links, and digital infrastructure across regions. The corridor aims to reduce logistics costs and transit time while promoting inclusive growth and sustainability.

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• IMEC connects India, Middle East, Europe; aims to cut logistics cost by 30%, time by 40%
• Goyal called IMEC a modern-day Silk Route for trade, culture, energy, and sustainability
• India to be central, acting as a trusted link under “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”
• Corridor includes railways, roads, undersea cables, and green energy networks
• Could extend to Africa via Middle East, improving intercontinental connectivity
• Emphasis on PPP model—private sector key in planning, funding, innovation
• Calls for unified trade regulations, digital systems like India’s UPI for seamless flow
• Proposes IMEC Bonds, green bonds for sustainable financing
• Urged involving industry groups to align IMEC with business needs
• Recommends think tanks, academia for policy input, research, and capacity building