January 28, 2025
IMEC – India-Middle-East-Europe Corridor
IMEC is a planned economic corridor designed to boost economic development by enhancing connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe. This corridor aims to supplement existing maritime and road transport routes, creating a direct pathway from India to Europe through the
United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel.
EcoPeace’s vision is to utilize IMEC as a means to promote regional stability and cooperation. By introducing a “Peace Triangle,” EcoPeace envisions fostering economic interdependence between Israel, Palestine, and Jordan as a pivotal component of this corridor.
Three Catalytic Projects of the Peace Triangle
1. Regional Water-Energy Exchange
Expanding on Project Prosperity, the 2022 water-energy exchange MoU signed between Israel, Jordan, and the UAE, EcoPeace proposes integrating Palestine into this initiative. The goal is to construct a large desalination plant in Gaza to serve both Palestinian and Jordanian water needs.
The Gaza Central Desalination Plant (GCDP), initially planned for a capacity of 55 MCM per year, should be expanded to 200 MCM. This increase will reduce water costs, enable public-private partnerships, and position Palestine as a regional water exporter to Jordan. In return, Palestine, like Israel, will purchase renewable energy from Jordan.
2. Renewable Energy Export
Harnessing the abundant solar and wind resources of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan could enable large-scale exports of solar electricity and green hydrogen to Europe.
Studies indicate that the Middle East could supply up to one-third of the electricity needs for eastern European countries, from Greece to Germany. EcoPeace proposes adding Gaza as an energy export hub alongside existing plans for energy exports from Israel and Egypt.
3. Electrified Rail Network
Research suggests that a renewable-powered rail network linking the Gulf to the Mediterranean could be 40% faster than alternative commercial routes.
EcoPeace proposes transforming Jordan into a central transport hub where the planned railway will split towards both Haifa Port and Gaza Port. Similar to how Rotterdam and Hamburg serve as major European trade ports, Haifa and Gaza could serve as key entry points for the Middle East, creating mutual economic and security benefits.