Modi, Mitsotakis Push IMEC Connectivity and AI Collaboration at New Delhi Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, focusing on strengthening connectivity through the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor. The meeting reviewed progress in the India-Greece strategic partnership across trade, defence, tourism, culture, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The corridor initiative traces its origins to the 2023 G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, where India, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the United States announced a memorandum of understanding to develop the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor. The project aims to reshape global supply chains and logistics by linking Asia, the Gulf region, and Europe through integrated transport and digital infrastructure.
The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor is designed around two primary routes: an eastern corridor connecting India to Gulf nations and a northern corridor linking the Gulf to Europe. Officials say the initiative seeks to reduce transportation costs, improve efficiency, strengthen supply chain resilience, and expand trade access while generating employment.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, both leaders discussed accelerating implementation of the corridor and expressed optimism about progress on the India-EU free trade agreement. The agreement is expected to increase investment flows, enhance technology cooperation, and create job opportunities, particularly for young professionals.
During his summit address, Mitsotakis described artificial intelligence as both a technological and cultural transformation. He emphasised the need for governments to retrain workers, ensure small businesses can access AI tools, and modernise public services. He also highlighted Greece’s efforts to integrate AI into education, healthcare, and digital governance, supported by partnerships with global cloud providers and European Union initiatives.
The IMEC project has significant economic and industrial implications. By shortening trade routes and improving infrastructure coordination, the corridor could reshape shipping networks between Asia and Europe. Analysts view it as a strategic alternative to existing trade pathways, potentially strengthening regional connectivity and reducing geopolitical risk in supply chains.
Socially, the corridor is expected to generate employment across logistics, manufacturing, and technology sectors. The parallel focus on AI collaboration suggests that digital infrastructure will play a central role, enabling smarter trade systems, predictive logistics, and cross-border innovation.
Experts note that cooperation between countries such as India and Greece reflects a broader European engagement with India’s growth trajectory. The combination of physical connectivity through IMEC and digital collaboration through AI partnerships signals an integrated approach to economic development.
Public policy discussions at the summit also addressed workforce displacement concerns linked to automation. Leaders stressed the importance of retraining programmes and inclusive technology adoption to ensure benefits reach farmers, educators, healthcare workers, and small entrepreneurs.
Looking ahead, both governments signalled support for early execution of IMEC projects and deeper collaboration in emerging technologies. Mitsotakis emphasised that responsible interdependence can expand global innovation, warning that excessive fragmentation or overregulation could limit progress.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Greece for its support on international security issues, reinforcing diplomatic alignment alongside economic cooperation. As implementation timelines become clearer, the corridor is expected to influence trade flows, investment decisions, and regional partnerships across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
The meeting between Modi and Mitsotakis underscores how infrastructure, trade policy, and artificial intelligence are increasingly interconnected. The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor represents a long-term strategic initiative aimed at reshaping connectivity while supporting technology-driven growth across partner economies.