BRIEF

New episode of Reimagining the Bay of Bengal 🎙️ @afaq1612 & @The_China_Chap unpack #IMEC's strategic relevance amid #StraitOfHormuz disruptions, and its potential as a trade corridor across the #ArabianSea & #BayOfBengal. Watch: youtube.com/watch?v=2kDQQW… @AsianConfluence

In this episode of Reimagining the Bay of Bengal 🎙️, Mr Afaq Hussain and Mr Neeraj Singh Manhas discuss the contours of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) 🚢. Announced at the G20 Summit in India in September 2023 🇮🇳, the initiative has gained renewed salience amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz ⚓. Mr Hussain outlines the key components of IMEC, arguing that it offers a credible alternative to existing trade routes while also creating new economic opportunities for countries along the Arabian Sea 🌊 and the Bay of Bengal 🌐📈. 🔗Watch the full episode: youtu.be/2kDQQWsyFb4?si… Mr Afaq Hussain is Director & Founding Member of BRIEF and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the N7 Initiative, Middle East Programs, Atlantic Council @afaq1612 @BRIEFIndia @AtlanticCouncil @N7_Initiative @ACMideast @The_China_Chap #IMEC #BayOfBengal #Geopolitics #Connectivity #TradeRoutes #IndoPacific #EconomicCorridors #G20India #MaritimeSecurity #GlobalTrade #IranWar‌ #iranisraelusawar #middleastconflict #WestAsia #StraitofHormuz

Thank you @AsianConfluence for having me for this conversation on #IMEC. @The_China_Chap @BRIEFIndia @ACMideast

Participated in the panel hosted by @ACMideast on #IMEC . Link to the discussion: youtube.com/live/3Exi0G4Ii… @ThisIsSoliman @AtlanticCouncil @WillWechsler

🌐💡Earlier this month, nonresident senior fellow @afaq1612 traveled to Trieste, Italy to participate in a meeting of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) sherpas. Discussions centered around the potential IMEC offers during a time of disruption in the Middle East. Join @afaq1612 and our Project for Middle East Integration for its forthcoming discussion IMEC's potential during a time of war. 🔗 Register here ➡️ bit.ly/4bVeJ9g

BRIEF recently completed the Inception Phase of a Baseline Study across #Jharkhand & #Telangana, supported by #BRLF for #NRM & climate-resilient #Agriculture for tribal livelihoods. Proud to support evidence-based #RuralDevelopment.

At the Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity at Research (@cmec_ris) and Research Information System for Developing Countries (@RIS_NewDelhi ) seminar on Smart Ports and Resilient Maritime Corridors-Drivers of Growth Session 1: Role of 'Resilient Maritime Corridors' brought forward key insights: Chaired by Dr Sanjeev Ranjan, Member-Adjudicatory Board for Major Ports and Former Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (@shipmin_india ) (India), emphasised the need to shift port performance metrics beyond turnaround time toward supply chain-based indicators such as reliability, integration, and continuity. Shri Ambrish Bansal, SVP, @lloydsregister, highlighted digital transformation as central to resilience, noting the development of tools like the Digital Maturity Index to assess and enhance the digital readiness of ports and maritime stakeholders. Prof Dipankar Sinha, IIFT Institute Kolkata (@iift1963), pointed out operational challenges, including delays in terminal operating systems (TOS) and uneven adoption, stressing the need to break port processes into stages: ship arrival, berth allocation, and cargo handling and improve each using data and predictive tools. Prof Prabir De(@Prabir_India ) at @cmec_ris, underlined that existing regional trade agreements lack safeguards to handle disruptions, which increase costs, delay deliveries, and weaken integration into global value chains. Mr. Afaq Hussain(@afaq1612 ), Director, Bureau of Research on Industry and Economic Fundamentals (BRIEF), emphasised that initiatives like IMEC have emerged in response, aiming to provide alternative connectivity options. The session concluded with valuable insights from industry leaders, underscoring the importance of digitalisation, policy coherence, and operational efficiency in building resilient maritime corridors. It highlighted the need for integrated, data-driven approaches to enhance reliability, reduce disruptions, and strengthen global trade connectivity. @shipmin_india @sarbanandsonwal @RIS_NewDelhi @SKSharma_World @Prabir_India @sujeetsamaddar @shishir_sh @dgshipping_IN @Indportsassn

Mr. Afaq Hussain, Co-founder & Director, spoke on “Resilient Maritime Corridors” at a seminar on #smartports organised by @RIS_NewDelhi @cmec_ris. He highlighted #resilientcorridors, paperless trade, and #IMEC as key to strengthening #supplychain resilience.

#BRIEFevents | On 5 March 2026, BRIEF hosted a closed-door roundtable in Mumbai on India–Western Australia #airconnectivity with @uwaindia and Invest and Trade Western Australia. Stakeholders discussed the strategic case for passenger demand, cargo, and #supplychain challenges✈️

In Italy, for the #IMEC forum at Trieste. Exploring this beautiful place before the actual science begins. #IndiaMiddleEastEuropeCorridor #Venice #Trieste

Our latest engagement at @BRIEFIndia . Thank you @uwanews and Invest & Trade, Western Australia for the joint initiative.

Thank you @FFFAI_INDIA for hosting @BRIEFIndia team for the discussion on potential next steps for Trade Facilitation in India.

.@FFFAI_INDIA & @BRIEFIndia had brain storming session at FFFAI H.O to discuss key trade facilitation issues like port & infrastructure, costs, rail cargo movement, shipping line charges, operational challenges impacting EXIM trade & MSMEs. @afaq1612

We’re hiring! 🚀 Join BRIEF as a Research Associate and work at the intersection of policy, trade, and impact. Send us your CV at info@briefindia.com

#IMEC could be a strategic enabler linking Indian and European markets. For converting the #IndiaEUFTA vision into reality, #connectivity, manufacturing & regulatory reform is key. @afaq1612 & Krishangi Kathotia write for @IndianExpress indianexpress.com/article/opinio… #IndiaEUTradeDeal

‘India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) could emerge as a strategic enabler, linking Indian and European markets through multimodal connectivity’ . My latest piece with Krishangi for @IndianExpress. #IndiaEUTradeDeal @BRIEFIndia indianexpress.com/article/opinio…

#ExpressOpinion | "Negotiations between India and the EU ran through 15 rounds but stalled in 2013 amid differences over market access, labour standards and other factors. By 2021, the global context shifted dramatically and prompted negotiations to resume." Writes: @afaq1612 & Krishangi Kathotia indianexpress.com/article/opinio…

Gratitude for 2025!! Looking forward to 2026. #Trade #Logistics #connectivity #IMEC @BRIEFIndia @AtlanticCouncil @ACMideast

Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year from Team BRIEF!✨

Conversations at BRIEF’s recent stakeholder consultation underscored the need for Trade Facilitation 2.0—moving beyond compliance-driven reforms to prioritise trader experience, cross-border interoperability, and ecosystem-wide integration. #TradeFacilitation #GlobalTrade