Inauguration of the MENA2050 IMEC Task Force

27 January 2026

Eli Bar-On

Inaugural Meeting of the IMEC Task Force

In January 2026, MENA2050 chose Geneva, the world’s capital of conference diplomacy and multilateral cooperation, as the setting for the inaugural in-person meeting of its IMEC Task Force.

Overview of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) represents a rare and consequential strategic opportunity, anchored in the transformative power of infrastructure. At its core, IMEC weaves together:

Railways, inspired by historical routes such as the Hejaz Railway that once connected distant geographies
Ports that realign global trade
Energy networks that sustain economic security
Digital corridors that carry data, innovation, and ideas across borders

Potential Impact of IMEC

Taken together, these systems have the potential to:

Catalyze technological and engineering innovation
Advance regulatory harmonization and standard-setting
Expand trade across regions long divided by conflict and disconnection

Strategic Context of IMEC

IMEC should be understood in the context of a strategic dialogue with the Afro-Atlantic backbone led by Morocco and Nigeria, a westward counterpart that links thirteen coastal and three landlocked African countries to Europe through:

The Nigeria–Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP)
Associated ports
Submarine cables
Digital infrastructure

Together, these elements have the potential to give rise to an Eastern Atlantic Community.

Sister Corridors and Strategic Depth

These “Sister Corridors,” IMEC in the east and NMGP in the west of the MENA region, open new strategic depth for:

The Middle East
Africa
India
Europe

They embody a powerful model of co-development in which rail connectivity, energy systems, and digital networks converge to support:

Geoeconomic alignment
Collaborative governance
Plurilateral diplomacy

Infrastructure and Cooperation

At a time of global turbulence and strategic uncertainty, such infrastructure creates durable spaces for cooperation among middle and regional powers, strengthening strategic autonomy and reinforcing long-term resilience.

Importance of Plurilateral Cooperation

In an increasingly multipolar international system, plurilateral cooperation frameworks are becoming essential to:

Stability
Smart growth
Regional and inter-regional socioeconomic integration

Economic corridors such as IMEC function not only as physical and digital linkages but also as governance platforms that shape rules, norms, and coordination mechanisms across borders. Their success will depend on:

Institutional trust
Regulatory alignment
The capacity of states and stakeholders to translate connectivity into shared prosperity

MENA2050's Role in Advancing IMEC

Through its IMEC Task Force, MENA2050 will mobilize its international network of distinguished and influential members and partners to advance the realization of IMEC. The initiative will:

Develop thematic, sectoral, and regional agendas
Aim to establish an annual IMEC and Economic Corridors Conference, supported by a dedicated think tank