News Desk
NEW DELHI — Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis meeting with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, to bolster a burgeoning partnership centered on the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The February visit, which underscored Greece’s aspiration to serve as Europe’s gateway for this transformative trade route, also spotlighted potential investments by India’s Adani Group in Greek ports.
The Adani Group, led by Gautam Adani—once ranked the world’s second-richest person and Asia’s wealthiest until late 2022 per Forbes—brings hefty credentials to the table. It already oversees seven airports in India and is constructing Mumbai’s new airport, slated for completion by 2036. At sea, the conglomerate controls 12 major ports across India, the planet’s most populous nation. Now, its gaze has turned to Greece, where it sees opportunities to modernize and expand port infrastructure.
“Greece welcomes potential interest from Indian companies,” Gerapetritis told The Hindu. “We expect this to lead to the modernization and expansion of our country’s port infrastructure.” He highlighted the strategic allure of Greek ports, noting their position “at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia,” ideal for linking these continents as transport hubs.
The talks come amid a broader strengthening of Greece-India ties, a bond Gerapetritis traced back to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s visit to India in February 2024. That trip, followed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stop in Athens in August 2023, cemented a commitment to double bilateral trade by 2030. This year, as the two nations celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, the momentum has only grown.
At the New Delhi meeting, Gerapetritis and Jaishankar explored collaboration in maritime security, shipping, trade, investment, culture, and tourism. “India and Greece are pillars of stability in their respective regions—the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean,” Gerapetritis said. He leaned into shared history, calling Greece “the oldest democracy” and India “the largest democratic nation in history,” united by ancient civilizations that have shaped humanity.
Trade, though promising, remains underexplored, the minister acknowledged. Construction materials, food and beverages, and renewable energy stand out as key sectors for growth. The European Union’s evolving relationship with India, including stalled negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, could turbocharge these efforts, he added. “When trade cooperation between India and the EU advances, we expect bilateral trade to record significant growth.”
Direct flights could further bridge the gap. With a bilateral Air Services Agreement in place since 2022, Greek and Indian airlines are poised to launch routes, a move Gerapetritis called “a catalyst for deepening our economic and commercial relations.” On X, posts this month echoed this optimism, with users noting Greece’s strategic pitch to counter China’s influence via IMEC—a sentiment Gerapetritis amplified in a March 11 Fox News appearance, where he hailed the corridor as “an excellent project.”
Meanwhile, the Adani Group’s interest in Kavala and Volos has stirred local buzz. A March 12 post on X from @andreasmoun cited the Greek government’s enthusiasm for the IMEC partnership, signaling Athens’ intent to leverage its ports for India’s trade ambitions. Yet challenges loom: regional competition, notably from Italy, which has pitched its Trieste port as an IMEC endpoint, could complicate Greece’s plans, analysts say.
For now, the Greek-Indian axis is gaining traction. As Gerapetritis put it, the goal is clear: enhance capacity at Greece’s logistics hubs, boost sea transport, and cement a partnership that spans continents. With the Adani Group’s potential investment and IMEC’s promise, the stakes—and the opportunities—have rarely been higher.
