New Delhi [India], April 19 (ANI): Despite the ongoing regional security situation, India remains committed to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Saturday adding that despite regional conflicts, progress on the initiative has not frozen and work continues on select partners on the initiative.

Adressing a special briefing by MEA on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia, Misri said, 'Wherever India can engage bilaterally, it has done so, continues to do so, and even with Saudi Arabia, we have engaged with it in the IMEC framework....the political and security situation in the regions seems as if the progress on IMEC is frozen but actually, we have been working with select partners. We have engaged with several of those special envoys and exchanged views on what needs to be done. There is a lot of groundwork that needs to be done.'

Highlighting the challenges, Misri noted that, after the signing of the framework understanding on IMEC in September 2023, all partners had an urgent regional situation to address, which meant that the kind of groundwork foreseen between all partners could not begin immediately.'

'However, does not mean that individual countries or groups of countries that are part of the original agreement have not discussed or engaged in what the contours of this agreement are going to look like and what kind of work will be required to effect progress under this agreement. A lot of groundwork needs to be done. We don't necessarily need to wait for the security situation to completely settle down before work can start,' he added.

The IMEC will comprise of two separate corridors, the east corridor connecting India to the Gulf and northern corridor connecting Gulf to Europe.

It will include a railway and ship-rail transit network and road transport routes.

The corridor will provide reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship to rail transit network to supplement existing maritime routes. It intends to increase efficiency, reduce costs, secure regional supply chains, increase trade accessibility, enhance economic cooperation, generate jobs and lower greenhouse gas emission, resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe and the West Asia.

Recently Unnion Minister Piysuh Goyal said that IMEC is not merely a trade route, but a modern-day Silk Route -- a partnership of equals -- that fosters synergy, connectivity, and inclusive prosperity.

'It will bring down logistics costs by up to 30 per cent, reduce transportation time by 40 per cent, and create seamless trade linkages across continents,' he said. He said that the corridor will ot only be linking trade but will be linking civilisations and cultures -- from Southeast Asia to the Gulf, from the Middle East to Central Europe.

Meanwhile, during PM Modi's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia will include discussions on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

According to Foreign Secretary Misri, the role of Saudi Arabia in facilitating contacts between Russia and Ukraine will be a significant area of discussion during the visit.

'We are glad to see some of that happening. And it's good that a partner such as Saudi Arabia is involved with this exercise,' Misri said.

India has consistently emphasised the need for dialogue to address and resolve the conflict, with PM Modi articulating India's position on the importance of people sitting around a table to find solutions.

When asked about Saudi Arabia's role in facilitating contacts between Russia and Ukraine, he responded, 'It is going to be a significant area of discussion.'

'It is indeed a fact that PM Modi had articulated India's position about the need for dialogue to address and resolve this issue..And we are glad to see some of that happening. And it's good that a partner such as Saudi Arabia is involved with this exercise...This is going to be a significant subject of discussion between the two leaders as well,' he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Saudi Arabia next week at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with his official engagements scheduled to take place in Jeddah on April 22 and 23. (ANI)