Consider the following statements: 1. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) aims to enhance connectivity between India and Europe. 2. IMEC includes both rail and maritime components. 3. China is not a founding participant of IMEC. How many of the statements given above are correct?

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

• IMEC was announced on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit held in New Delhi in September 2023 through a Memorandum of Understanding.
• It seeks to create an integrated transport and connectivity network between India, West Asia and Europe, thereby boosting trade and energy flows. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The corridor has two parts, the East Corridor connecting India to the Gulf and the Northern Corridor connecting the Gulf to Europe, and it combines shipping routes with a cross-border rail link along with electricity cables, hydrogen pipelines and data cables. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The founding signatories were India, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union. China is not a participant and IMEC is widely seen as an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative. Hence, statement 3 is correct.