In a landmark visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by French President Emmanuel Macron, toured the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Cadarache, France. This visit marks the first by any Head of State or Head of Government to one of the world’s most ambitious fusion energy projects.
India is among the seven ITER members contributing to this high-science project, which aims to demonstrate nuclear fusion as a clean and unlimited energy source. India’s contribution includes the delivery of nine in-kind packages, each involving first-of-its-kind development of materials, machining, technologies, and quality.
The two leaders, welcomed by ITER Director General Pietro Barabaschi, praised the progress of ITER, particularly the assembly of the world’s largest Tokamak. This device is expected to produce 500 MW of fusion power by creating, containing, and controlling burning plasma. They also commended the dedication of the ITER engineers and scientists working on the project.
Approximately 200 Indian scientists and associates, along with notable industry players such as L&T, Inox India, TCS, TCE, and HCL Technologies, are actively engaged in the ITER project.
PM Modi and President Macron also visited the control room of CMA-CGM, a leading French shipping and logistics company in Marseille. The Prime Minister was briefed on the company’s business activities, including shipping, port operations, supply chain management, and warehousing. Discussions also included future collaboration in the context of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which aims to integrate Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
“Strengthening Maritime Ties in Marseille! President Emmanuel Macron and I visited the control room of CMA-CGM, a global leader in shipping and logistics. As India expands its maritime and trade networks, collaborations with industry leaders will play a crucial role in boosting connectivity, supply chains, and economic growth. We are working towards enhancing India-France cooperation in logistics, sustainability, and global trade, reinforcing our shared vision for a better maritime future,” PM Modi posted on X following the visit.
The IMEC initiative was announced during the G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023, with leaders from India, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and the United States committing to work together on its development. The corridor will feature two segments: the east corridor connecting India to the Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the Gulf to Europe.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the corridor will offer a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement existing maritime routes. It aims to increase efficiency, reduce costs, secure regional supply chains, enhance trade accessibility, boost economic cooperation, generate jobs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
