India’s New Connectivity Project to Link New Delhi and Middle East
India has recently unveiled a new connectivity project that will link the capital city of New Delhi to the Middle East through a new sea route. The project is expected to boost India’s trade ties with the Middle East and enhance the country’s strategic reach in the region.
The project, which is called the India Middle East-Western Mediterranean (IMEWM) connectivity project, is being developed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The project involves the creation of a new sea route that will link the ports of Mumbai and Mundra in western India to the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
The project will connect India to key ports in the Middle East, including Bandar Abbas in Iran, Chabahar in Iran, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The new sea route will also connect India to key ports in the Mediterranean, including Alexandria in Egypt, Haifa in Israel, and Piraeus in Greece.
The IMEWM connectivity project is expected to have a significant impact on India’s trade ties with the Middle East. The Middle East is an important market for Indian goods, with bilateral trade between India and the Middle East standing at around $120 billion in 2019-20. The new sea route is expected to reduce transportation costs and boost the competitiveness of Indian goods in the region.
The project is also expected to enhance India’s strategic reach in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The new sea route will provide India with an alternative route to the Suez Canal, which is currently the only major shipping route connecting Asia to Europe. The project will also enhance India’s connectivity with key countries in the Middle East, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, and help India to strengthen its ties with these countries.
The IMEWM connectivity project is part of India’s wider efforts to enhance connectivity with its neighbours and beyond. India has been working on several connectivity projects in recent years, including the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which links India with Russia, Central Asia, and Europe, and the Chabahar port project, which provides India with access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
The project is also part of India’s broader vision for the Indo-Pacific region, which seeks to enhance connectivity and promote economic growth in the region. The Indo-Pacific region is an important area for India, and the country has been working to strengthen its ties with key countries in the region, including Japan, Australia, and the United States.
The project is part of India’s broader efforts to enhance connectivity with its neighbours and beyond and is a testament to India’s commitment to promoting economic growth and regional integration.
