In an office steps away from the Arc de Triomphe, Gerard Mestrallet leans back in a leather chair, his tone calm but resolute. At 76, the former chief executive of French energy giant Engie is once again at the heart of an ambitious project – this time as President Emmanuel Macron's personal envoy for a vast infrastructure plan: the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
Work on the corridor, designed to strengthen trade links between Europe, the Middle East, and India, is rapidly gaining momentum. As Washington ramps up tariffs and global trade dynamics shift, Brussels is broadening its outreach. This week, the European Commission and the UAE agreed to open free trade agreement talks, following breakthroughs with Thailand and renewed negotiations talks with Malaysia and the Philippines.
For Mr Mestrallet, IMEC has the potential to bring the West and the Global South closer together. “It will be the most important infrastructure project of the 21st century,” Mr Mestrallet told The National. “It connects regions that want peace, prosperity and which have long term trust relationships. It is exactly what we need today. We need stability. We need trust. We need confidence.”
The IMEC blueprint outlines two interconnected corridors: a maritime route linking India to Gulf nations, and a northern rail line stretching from the Gulf to Europe. The 6,400km project also involves digital cables and pipelines. Hydrogen, which the UAE has started exporting to Germany in small quantities, will be a priority investment. “Along the railway route, participants intend to enable the laying of cable for electricity and digital connectivity, as well as pipe for clean hydrogen export,” reads IMEC's 2023 Memorandum of Understanding.
“Trade between India, the Middle East, and Europe is growing at 6 or 7 per cent per year. At this pace, it will double in 10 years. To meet these economic demands, we'll need transport, maritime, and rail infrastructure,” said Mr Mestrallet.
IMEC gains traction
Signed just weeks before the October 7, 2023 attacks against Israel, IMEC's early momentum stalled. Development projects at the Israeli port of Haifa – set to play a central role – were put on pause as Israel launched a retaliatory war against Gaza.
Mr Mestrallet declined to comment directly on the conflict, stressing instead the corridor's long-term geopolitical vision. “It would enable the implementation of the Abraham Accords,” he said in a reference to the agreement signed in 2020 by Israel, the UAE and Bahrain. “It would also be a way to bring the Middle East, India and the West closer, at a time when some commentators see a split between the West and the Global South. So, it's really important for the stability of the world.”
That ambition aligns with EU-India efforts to finalise a long-delayed free trade agreement by the end of the year – 18 years after negotiations started. “It's clear that Trump's return has revived talks. We see a much more firm approach from the EU now for a deal,” said Olivier Da Lage, India specialist at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations in Paris.
Speaking to the Financial Times on Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "[There is] the interest of so many countries around the world to work closer with us, together, to balance the system and to have free trade really competing on quality and not around tariffs.”
Brussels hopes IMEC can become a flagship project of $300 billion Global Gateway infrastructure strategy. “The EU is committed to working with the IMEC signatories on implementing it,” EU Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier told The National. “We are ready to invest in concrete projects that can already start making these connections happen.”
In a February speech in New Delhi, Ms von der Leyen hailed IMEC as a “modern golden road” and “much more than 'just' a railway or a cable”. “It is a green and digital bridge across continents and civilisations. And it can help bring us closer together and boost trade on everything from batteries to clean hydrogen and digital services.”
The corridor was also high on the agenda during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's February visit to France, where he and Mr Macron spent a half-day at Marseille port with French shipping company CMA CGM.
It later told The National that it will play a “central role in the efficiency of this corridor”, with its port hubs in India, the UAE and the Mediterranean. Its weekly India Gulf Express services already links India's of Nhava Sheva and Mundra ports to Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi in the Gulf.
Another French company poised to benefit is Capgemini, the IT consultancy with more than 150,000 employees in India. As noted by Mr Mestrallet, the firm's data centres will increasingly require green energy from Middle Eastern solar panel fields or UAE hydrogen.
“These IT services experts work online for clients around the world, both American and European. This requires very high-speed data transmission via fibre optics. The development of artificial intelligence will greatly increase computing and data storage capabilities,” he said.
Momentum is increasing across Europe. Until recently, Mr Mestrallet was the only special IMEC envoy, but Italy appointed former diplomatic adviser to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Francesco Maria Talo, on April 2.
Both Italy and Greece are pushing their ports – Trieste and Piraeus – as potential rivals to Marseille. “There is a major opportunity for transport, energy and construction firms to expand their markets,” said Alberto Rizzi, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank.
Boost for India
At its heart, IMEC is an Indian initiative – a strategic push to diversify partnerships and lessen reliance on China. “For India, it's an important policy point to talk about international connectivity projects. It [IMEC] would help India increase both its regional and global footprint,” said Garima Mohan, a Brussels-based senior fellow in the German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific programme.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of a G20 summit in New Delhi by leaders from India, the US, the UAE, France, Italy and Germany. Backed strongly by then-US president Joe Biden as a counterweight to China's Belt and Road Initiative, IMEC remains in Washington's sights and was mentioned in an India-US joint statement in February during a visit by Mr Modi to Washington. The new Trump administration has so far not showed “negative signals” towards IMEC, Mr Mestrallet said.
Major powers increasingly view trade routes as diplomatic tools. “Countries want to attract high-value activities on their soil and to be on these global trade routes without watching them pass by into neighbouring countries,” said Laurent Livolsi, a logistics expert and management professor at Aix-Marseille University.
As it moves forward with IMEC, India has found a strong partner in the UAE. Their 2022 free trade deal – the first India had signed in over a decade – laid groundwork for deeper economic ties. In September, they launched a “virtual trade corridor” that aims to cut red tape.
The corridor is a model that France is watching closely to see if it can be replicated by Gulf countries in the railway segment of IMEC that crosses the Arabian Peninsula. Its efficiency in simplifying administrative and financial management and customs clearance should be expanded to all of IMEC, according to Mr Mestrallet.
Since February 2023, France, the UAE and India have been holding a trilateral strategic dialogue, where IMEC has been added to the agenda alongside military co-operation and climate change.
“Trade between India and the Emirates did not wait for IMEC to flourish,” Mr Mestrallet said. “What is certain is that this trade will continue to increase. IMEC will provide an additional incentive for its growth and will therefore make it even more necessary to adapt these infrastructures.”
Still, continuing conflicts in the Middle East remain the project's biggest obstacle. “Everyone is waiting to see what comes from Gaza in terms of policy,” said Jean-Loup Semaan, senior research fellow at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore.
Egypt wants in
Mr Mestrallet acknowledged the impact of regional instability but also pointed at renewed interest in rail lines as Red Sea shipping lanes face mounting threats, such as Houthi attacks. While rail cannot match maritime trade in volume, it offers speed and security for high-value goods. “To gain time, the train line will have to be fast – at least 80 to 90kph,” Mr Mestrallet said.
Other options than Haifa port as an entry way into the Mediterranean may also have to be considered, he added. “It may be wise to think of alternatives such as Alexandria in Egypt. That was discussed between President [Abdel Fattah] Ei Sisi and Mr Macron,” he said, referring to the French President's recent visit to Egypt.
Mr Macron has been pushing for the inclusion of Egypt into IMEC, which, despite not posing a serious threat to the Suez Canal's importance for world trade, has reportedly been viewed as competition by Cairo.
“Egypt wants to integrate IMEC,” Mr Mestrallet said. “It would be only natural. Egypt has a unique history of connecting East and West. This was true before the Suez Canal. It is certainly true after the Suez Canal.”
IMEC's final shape is not decided. Ultimately, it will include a mixture of existing infrastructure with new development. In a policy brief published last year, Mr Rizzi suggested using projects such as the Euro-Asia interconnector – an electricity cable under construction since 2022 linking the grids of Greece, Cyprus and Israel.
“The biggest strength of IMEC is that while it offers a new trade route between Europe and India from the Gulf, it's not built on a void. It actually builds on projects that those countries are planning to do anyway,” Mr Rizzi told The National.
Questions remain, particularly regarding IMEC's $500 billion estimated cost and governance needs. So far Saudi Arabia is the only country to have made a public pledge of $20 billion. Private financing must also play a role, according to Mr Mestrallet, who cited the development of private maritime ports in India.
“For now, it's just a concept. We need to turn it into a real project,” Mr Mestrallet said. “We need to identify the infrastructure and its existing capabilities, see what the internal needs will be, and conduct studies to determine whether there is a demand.”
There are hopes that IMEC's governance will become more structured this year, so that in-depth studies can be conducted with participants sharing their costs. “We'll need a collective structure, a steering committee, a permanent secretariat, and work that would be done among Sherpa members,” Mr Mestrallet said.
Some analysts say Europe's growing enthusiasm for IMEC signals a cultural shift. “Europe has structured itself with inter-European networks but hasn't reproduced that vision internationally,” Mr Livolsi said. “But this is the dominant vision internationally.”
IMEC remains largely confined to European diplomatic circles, but Mr Mestrallet said interest from French businesses is rising. They are keen, he said, in “building lasting relationships on solid foundations and infrastructure with friendly countries”.
“If there can be stability and continuity in economic relations, trade relations, diplomatic relations, and beyond that geostrategic relations between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and Europe, I think that this is extremely positive for the security of the world,” he said.
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')
Points about the fast fashion industry Celine Hajjar wants everyone to know
- Fast fashion is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions
- Fast fashion is responsible for 24 per cent of the world's insecticides
- Synthetic fibres that make up the average garment can take hundreds of years to biodegrade
- Fast fashion labour workers make 80 per cent less than the required salary to live
- 27 million fast fashion workers worldwide suffer from work-related illnesses and diseases
- Hundreds of thousands of fast fashion labourers work without rights or protection and 80 per cent of them are women
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
Company%20Profile
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000, 2,400m
Winner: Recordman, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000, 2,200m
Winner: AF Taraha, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000, 1,400m
Winner: Dhafra, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000, 1,400m
Winner: Maqam, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000, 1,600m
Winner: AF Momtaz, Fernando Jara, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000, 1,600m
Winner: Optimizm, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
Results
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 3 (Abraham 11', 17', 74')
Luton Town 1 (Clark 30')
Man of the match Abraham (Chelsea)
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)
Saturday
Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)
Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)
Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)
Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)
Sunday
Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Levante v Real Mallorca (12am)
Leganes v Barcelona (4pm)
Real Betis v Valencia (7pm)
Granada v Atletico Madrid (9.30pm)
Sunday
Real Madrid v Real Sociedad (12am)
Espanyol v Getafe (3pm)
Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao (5pm)
Eibar v Alaves (7pm)
Villarreal v Celta Vigo (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Valladolid v Sevilla (12am)
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Results
2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Arrab, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mahaleel, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
3.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum handicap (TB) Dh200,000 2,000m; Winner: Dolmen, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Amang Alawda, Sandro Paiva, Bakhit Al Ketbi.
4.15pm: The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m; Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
4.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: Al Jazi, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
Results
3pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m, Winner: Lancienegaboulevard, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Fawzi Nass (trainer).
3.35pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m, Winner: Al Mukhtar Star, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
4.10pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Speedy Move, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar.
5.20pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Moqarrar, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy.
5.55pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Dolman, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Race card
4pm Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m
5.10pm Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections:
4pm Zabardast
4.35pm Ibn Malik
5.10pm Space Blues
5.45pm Kimbear
6.20pm Barney Roy
6.55pm Matterhorn
7.30pm Defoe
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
More on Palestine-Israeli relations
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
more from Janine di Giovanni
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
