The EU invests more in Central Asia than Russia or China, Borrel said and promised another €300 million
The delegation of Turkmenistan took part in the Conference on Interconnectedness between the European Union and Central Asia: Global Gateway, which was held in Samarkand on Friday.
The purpose of the conference is to develop intra- and inter-regional dialogue in accordance with the Global Gateway European Strategy, which was launched on December 1, 2021, as well as the presentation of Team Europe initiatives.
"What we call the Global Gateway is designed to promote a green and digital transition at the global level," said Josep Borrel, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the European Commission. "To do this, in practice, we use all the levers we have and combine the efforts of the institutions of the European Union, the EU member states, financial institutions and the potential of the European business community."
As the EU High Representative noted, 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 Central Asian countries, which exceeds 40% of the total volume of foreign direct investment in the region.
"Yes, the EU invests more in the region than Russia, more than China,– Borrel said. "And we are ready to do even more: for 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, via digital communications, will expand Central Asia's access to the global Internet via satellite communications.
Among the speakers were EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso and Vice President of the European Investment Bank Teresa Chervinskaya, heads of foreign ministries of Central Asian countries.
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