EU Strengthening Ties with Central Asia before Global Gateway Forum
ASTANA – European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, will be visiting five Central Asian countries from March 12 to 18 to strengthen the EU-Central Asia partnership. This visit comes at a crucial time as global challenges highlight the importance of solid partnerships.
Síkela’s visit is in anticipation of the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit in early April and the Global Gateway Forum in June. During his visit, he will focus on key Global Gateway projects that aim to create quality jobs, unlock new business opportunities, and improve essential services such as education and modern infrastructure.
The Commissioner will be signing several contracts related to the main priority areas of the Global Gateway in Central Asia, with a particular emphasis on transport. The focus will be on the Middle Corridor, critical raw materials, digital connectivity, and the water, energy, and climate sectors.
In Kazakhstan, Síkela will conclude bilateral and regional agreements on transport and critical raw materials. He will meet with high-level government officials, attend press conferences, and engage with Kazakh and EU businesses to further enhance cooperation between the two regions.
The Global Gateway strategy, which aims to mobilize 300 billion euros (US$325.8 billion) in public and private investments from 2021 to 2027, represents the EU’s positive offer to bridge the global investment gap. Síkela’s visit underscores the EU’s commitment to developing strong partnerships and fostering economic growth in Central Asia.
