Global Gateway, launched by President von der Leyen in December 2021, is the EU’s contribution to narrowing the global investment gap, supporting global economic recovery and accompanying the twin green and digital transitions beyond European borders. It is a value-based strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.
Sustainable connectivity is a high political priority for both the EU and Central Asia: building on the EU Strategy for Connecting Europe and Asia (2018), it is also a central element of the EU’s Strategy on Central Asia of 2019 and of the Global Gateway strategy adopted in 2021.
This panel explored what “sustainable and trusted connections” mean in a Central Asian context and how it is being put into action, ahead of the EU-Central Asia Connectivity Forum later this year.
Synopsis
The panellists discussed the importance of connectivity in Central Asia and developments to date. There was a particular focus put on transport and the importance of improving regional and international transport corridors to enhance trade and economic growth. The panellists agreed that digitalisation is a crucial step in improving the region’s connectivity as it will also enable developments in sectors such as transport and energy. The potential of hydropower and its contribution to decarbonising the region was also highlighted, as was the need for a strong partnership between Europe and Central Asia.
