India-Middle East Economic Cooperation: Charting the Pathways

Historically, economic cooperation between India and the Middle East has been dominated by oil and petroleum product trade, which has formed the backbone of their inter-regional engagement for centuries. As climate change becomes more urgent, the world is shifting toward renewable energy sources, decarbonization, and technological development; this long-standing framework is beginning to change. This chapter thus examines the strategic shift in trade relations between India and the Middle East and highlights emerging opportunities that are redefining their partnership in the coming decades under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). It focuses on a futuristic scenario central to re-engagement − the Oman–Gujarat Green Fuel Bridge which represents a new phase of collaboration in green hydrogen, ammonia, and other renewable energy sectors. This development signals a shift in economic cooperation between India and the Middle East, moving toward a future-oriented economic architecture rooted in green energy exchange and technological advancement. Thus, the chapter explores how India and the Middle East can transition from an oil and petrol-centric relationship to a more diversified and resilient partnership aligned with the goals of a green economy through a new green corridor, while also addressing the challenges in operating this corridor.