Conference on interconnectedness between the European Union and Central Asia - Global Gateway - was held in Samarkand, reports Orient.
The aim of the conference was to develop intra- and inter-regional dialogue in accordance with the European Global Gateway strategy, which was launched on December 1, 2021, as well as to present Team Europe initiatives.
“What we call the Global Gateway is designed to advance the green and digital transition at the global level,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell.
For this, in practice, we use all the levers we have and combine the efforts of the EU institutions, EU member states, financial institutions and the potential of the European business community, Borrell said.
Europe is the number one source of foreign direct investment in the world and the largest investor in Central Asia. Over the past 10 years, EU member states have invested more than 105 billion euros or 121.3 billion US dollars in the countries of Central Asia, which exceeds 40% of the total foreign direct investment in the region.
“Yes, the EU is investing in the region more than Russia, more than China,” Borrell said. “And we are ready to do even more: over the next four years, we have allocated 300 million euros in grants for both bilateral and regional projects.”
He also noted the launch of Team Europe initiatives. One of them - on water, energy and climate change - will contribute to the sustainable management of water and energy resources, solving environmental problems and combating climate change in Central Asia.
The other, through digital communications, will expand Central Asia's access to the global Internet through satellite communications.
Among the speakers were EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso and Vice President of the European Investment Bank Teresa Chervinskaya, heads of foreign policy departments of Central Asian countries.
Central Asia LIGHT. org
Nov. 18, 2022