APSEZ Signs MoU with French Port to Deepen Cooperation on Trade Facilitation

Why It Matters

The MoU strengthens India‑EU trade connectivity while embedding sustainability, positioning both nations as pivotal nodes in a fast‑growing trans‑continental logistics network.

Key Takeaways

• IMEC Ports Club to coordinate 6,000‑km corridor
• Mundra‑Marseille Fos corridor targets low‑carbon fuels
• Adds 70 million tonnes capacity at Marseille Fos
• Strengthens India‑EU trade via multimodal links
• Supports energy transition with shore power initiatives

Pulse Analysis

The India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is emerging as a strategic alternative to traditional shipping routes, leveraging a blend of maritime, rail and digital infrastructure to cut transit times and costs. By anchoring the eastern gateway at APSEZ’s Mundra and Hazira terminals, the corridor taps India’s burgeoning export base, while the western terminus at Marseille Fos grants direct access to the European Union’s extensive hinterland. This alignment not only diversifies supply‑chain risk but also reinforces India’s ambition to become a global trade hub.

The newly signed MoU formalises cooperation through the IMEC Ports Club, a platform designed to harmonise operational standards, data exchange and sustainability protocols across participating ports. A standout feature is the Mundra‑Marseille Fos Green Maritime Corridor, which will pilot low‑carbon bunkering, shore‑power facilities and alternative fuels, directly addressing the maritime sector’s decarbonisation targets. With Marseille Fos contributing roughly 70 million tonnes of handling capacity, the partnership expands the corridor’s throughput potential, promising smoother cargo flows and reduced bottlenecks.

For businesses, the agreement signals a more reliable and greener conduit for Indo‑European trade, potentially lowering logistics costs and carbon footprints. Policymakers in both countries can leverage this framework to attract further investment in rail links, digital customs platforms and renewable energy projects along the route. As global trade patterns shift toward sustainability and resilience, the APSEZ‑Marseille Fos collaboration positions the IMEC as a competitive alternative to existing trade arteries, likely influencing future trade agreements and infrastructure funding decisions.

APSEZ signs MoU with French port to deepen cooperation on trade facilitation

The agreement will strengthen the India · Europe leg of the India · Middle East · Europe Economic Corridor · By BL Ahmedabad Bureau · Updated · February 18, 2026 at 11:39 AM

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with France’s Port of Marseille Fos to deepen cooperation on trade facilitation, port innovation and energy transition, strengthening the India–Europe leg of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

The agreement proposes the creation of an IMEC Ports Club, aimed at institutionalising coordination among key ports along the 6,000‑km multimodal corridor linking India and Europe through integrated maritime routes, rail networks, digital systems and clean‑energy pathways. The move is expected to streamline cargo movement and reinforce connectivity between India and the European Union.

APSEZ’s ports at Mundra and Hazira serve as the eastern gateway of IMEC, connecting South Asia to West Asia. Marseille Fos strengthens the western European gateway, adding approximately 70 million tonnes of capacity and extending the corridor’s reach deeper into Europe. A key component of the pact is the development of a Mundra–Marseille Fos Green Maritime Corridor, focusing on cleaner fuels, shore power supply and low‑carbon bunkering solutions, aligning trade expansion with energy transition goals.

Ashwani Gupta, Whole‑time Director & CEO, APSEZ, said the agreement completes the final European leg of the IMEC pathway for India–EU trade and will accelerate cargo and information exchange among participating nations, strengthening economic cooperation. Hervé Martel, CEO of Marseille Fos, said both ports sit at strategic ends of the corridor and will work to mobilise participating ports to build a more efficient and sustainable trade backbone between the regions.

Signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India, the MoU aligns India–France port cooperation with the broader IMEC framework, positioning both countries as key nodes in an emerging trans‑continental trade corridor.