Dr. Jitendra Singh Discusses the Significance of the Bharat-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor

Briefing the media about the outcomes of the just concluded G20 India Summit and the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Space and Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh made a special mention of the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and said "G20 Bharat-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor" redeems  post-Partition India’s quest for restoring an extended and deeper connectivity in the region". It will address obstacles created by Pakistan' s denial of over-land access and China’s  reported connectivity designs in the region, he said.

"Personally, it instantly took me to the 'Kabuliwala' days of pre-Partition India", he said, striking a sentimental chord.

The signing of an MoU on IMEC was announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi after co-chairing a special event with the US President Mr. Joe Biden on Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and IMEC, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi yesterday.

The IMEC comprises an Eastern Corridor connecting India to the Gulf region and a Northern Corridor connecting the Gulf region to Europe. It will include a railway and ship-rail transit network and road transport routes.

The MOU on IMEC was signed by India, USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE, European Union, Italy, France and Germany.

Quoting Prime Minister Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said better connectivity not only results in increased trade, but it also serves as a source of growing trust. The IMEC will help overcome the obstacles created by Pakistan and China’s own designs, he said.

“So, India has found a way out whereby it would not only connect for reasons of economics, but also connect for the reasons of greater cohesiveness among the world community,” said Dr Jitendra Singh.

Dr Jitendra Singh said the G20 Delhi Declaration dealt with contentious issues like Ukraine “without being evasive and in a very justifiable way”.

“The Declaration admits that the G20 mandate is to act as a forum for economic cooperation, but at the same time, since the aftermath of the war results in economic distress, "we note with deep concern the immense human suffering and adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world".

The Union Minister said that the Global Biofuels Alliance to be led by India, Brazil and the United States, as leading biofuel producers and consumers, will greatly help achieve the MDG Goals of India turning Net Zero by 2070.

Hailing the admission of the African Union into the G20, the Minister said the New Delhi Summit amply demonstrates that “the world today is ready to be led by India under Prime Minister Modi who has gone down in history for converting G20 into G21.”

“He has established India’s role as a nation which is no longer going to be led, but is ready to lead,” said Dr Jitendra Singh.

The Minister said, India’s Presidency of the G20 was inclusive, rich in content and enormous in scale.

“G20 was spread over 60 cities and more than 220 meetings were held,” he said.