Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s largest port operator, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of Marseille Fos, which is one of France’s biggest and most important ports in the Mediterranean region. This agreement aims to increase cooperation between the two ports in several key areas to make trade between India and Europe smoother and more efficient.

Under the MoU, both APSEZ and Marseille Fos will work together to focus on trade facilitation, port innovation, and energy transition. Trade facilitation refers to finding ways to make the movement of goods easier through faster processes, better coordination, and shared ideas on managing cargo and shipping operations. Port innovation will involve adopting new technologies and systems to make ports smarter and more efficient. Energy transition efforts will support cleaner and greener solutions that reduce pollution and help sustain long-term environmental goals.

A major part of this partnership is planning the creation of an IMEC Ports Club. IMEC stands for India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, a large international trade route designed to link India with Europe through a combination of maritime, rail, and digital networks. This corridor is intended to offer a competitive, secure, and reliable alternative for global trade flows between the regions. The Ports Club will help improve coordination among the ports that lie along the IMEC route and share best practices to benefit all members.

The port of Marseille Fos is strategically important because it serves as a major gateway to Europe. Its infrastructure is well connected by rail, road, river, and pipelines to inland areas of France and beyond, helping goods reach large consumer markets across Europe quickly and efficiently. By joining forces with APSEZ, Marseille Fos will help extend the reach of the IMEC corridor deeper into Western Europe, while APSEZ’s ports at Mundra and Hazira act as key gateways on India’s western coast that connect South Asia to West Asia. This strengthened link creates a continuous trade route from India to Europe.

According to the Economic Times report, this pact builds on the idea of creating a more structured and coordinated trade pathway between India and the European Union. It is seen as especially important now since India and the EU are close to operationalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which has been described as “the mother of all deals.” With an expanded corridor and better port cooperation, trade between India and Europe could grow significantly once the agreement is in place.

Under the new agreement, both ports will focus on several specific goals: promoting the IMEC route as a sustainable and competitive trade link, working on joint campaigns to raise awareness of the corridor’s potential, and participating in global trade events and business engagements that can attract investment and partnerships. These efforts will help position the IMEC corridor as a viable option for shipping and logistics companies looking for efficient routes between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

The pact also supports technical collaboration on areas such as port digitalisation, smart port systems, data exchange standards, cybersecurity, and the use of alternative fuels. These technological upgrades are meant to make ports more resilient and future-ready, especially as global shipping trends shift toward digital and green operations.

Adani Ports’ leadership has said that India has already taken a leading role in advancing the IMEC corridor, with its own ports establishing strong responsibility in the initial stages of the route. With this new MoU, the company says it has completed the final connection to Europe through Marseille Fos, which will help accelerate the flow of information and goods among countries participating in the corridor, strengthening economic cooperation and supply chains.

Executives from both APSEZ and the Port of Marseille Fos have highlighted that this partnership comes at a decisive time as global markets look for reliable trade routes that support resilience, sustainability, and shared growth. By mobilising other ports and stakeholders along the IMEC corridor, the deal aims to build a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable connection between India and Europe, benefiting businesses and economies on both sides.