X India: First Meeting on September 26 with Gérard Mestrallet (X68) as Keynote Speaker

The concept of the X India group was initiated during the COVID-19 period by Priyanka Das Rajkakati (X14) and Jean-Marc Deshouillers (X65). Currently, Dhruv Malik (G18) and Shivank Gupta (G19) are leading the X India Group.

Most members are based in France, including Indian alumni and students, as well as French alumni. The presence in India is represented by the AX Embassy in Delhi with Marie Khater (X14) and Jean-Nicolas Roussel (X12).

The first meeting in Paris on September 26 gathered over 30 participants, primarily Indian alumni and students. AX was represented by Loïc Rocard (X91), its President; Yves Demay (X77), its Executive Director; and Michel Georgin (X66), its International Project Officer. Amit Pathare represented the CCIFI (Chambre de commerce et d’industrie franco-indienne).

A brief introduction outlined the group's objectives, followed by a keynote address from Gérard Mestrallet.

After nearly 20 years as CEO/Chairman of the Suez-ENGIE Group, Gérard Mestrallet was appointed as France's Special Envoy for IMEEC project, launched at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023. His extensive knowledge of Asia, particularly India, made him an ideal choice for the launch of the X India group.

IMEEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor)

The project, endorsed by India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, the United States, and the European Union, aims to establish a new trade route linking India to Europe. This route, using sea and rail transport, promises a faster, safer, cheaper, and greener solution. 

 The corridor has five dimensions:

• Rail: Construction of over 1,000 km of new rail tracks.
• Maritime: Strengthening port infrastructure
• Renewable Energy and Hydrogen: Creation and deployment of green energy infrastructure, primarily based on green hydrogen; connecting electricity grids between India, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
• Digital: Creation of a 20,000 km fiber optic network.
• Master Planning: Enhancing hinterlands and harmonizing administrative and customs formalities.

In practice, the corridor will consist of rail and sea routes, along with digital cables and pipelines, predominantly used for transporting hydrogen.

The IMEEC project is expected to require significant investment, over 550 billion dollars. Obviously, it depends on the stability in the Middle East, as the hub at the end of the railway route is on the Mediterranean Sea. However, in this respect, the project represents a substantial opportunity for investment in the region.

IMEEC is an opportunity to strengthen relations between India, France, and the EU, bringing India closer to the West.

AX Embassy in New Dehli

The AX community in India was recently launched last spring, gathering Indian and French alumni living in India.

At the beginning of October, Laura Chaubard (X99), president of l'X, travelled to India together with Dominique Rossin (X94), director of studies and research, and Gaëlle Le Goff, director of international relations. They signed cooperation agreements with IIT Mumbai and IIT Delhi which are among the most prestigious universities in India. On that occasion l'X delegation met the alumni community for a dinner in Connaught Place, one of the iconic neighborhoods of New Delhi.

The dinner was the occasion to discuss how to strengthen the links between l'X and India. The 8 Alumni shared some insights on their daily life and their aspirations for the future in a country full of opportunities and challenges.