Brussels, October 2025 — The second edition of the Global Gateway Forum turned the Belgian capital into the world’s diplomatic and investment crossroads on 9–10 October 2025. Heads of state, ministers, development banks, and private investors gathered to discuss how Europe can build smarter, cleaner connections with the rest of the world.
Launched in 2021 as the European Union’s flagship investment strategy, Global Gateway aims to mobilise hundreds of billions of euros for sustainable infrastructure projects across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond. This year’s Forum marked a turning point: the EU officially announced that it had surpassed its €300 billion investment target two years ahead of schedule, with more than €306 billion already mobilised under the initiative.
“Global Gateway is not charity. It is a partnership for the future — built on trust, sustainability, and mutual benefit,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the opening session.
A Forum Focused on Action
The two-day event went beyond speeches, focusing on concrete results and new project launches. Discussions centred on clean energy, digital infrastructure, transport corridors, and education.
Key initiatives included:
- A €618 million package for renewable energy projects across Africa — supporting countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, and Mauritania in their transition toward green industrialisation.
- Progress on the Lobito Corridor, a major transport route linking Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which aims to cut transport times from over a month to just a week.
- Expanded cooperation between the European Commission and the World Bank Group to speed up project delivery and create jobs in partner countries.
- The ASEAN Power Grid and new partnerships in Central Asian hydropower and digital connectivity, designed to strengthen energy and communication links between Europe and Asia.
A Message of Confidence and Partnership
If one theme dominated the Forum, it was confidence. For the EU, Global Gateway is more than a funding tool — it’s a geopolitical statement. It positions Europe as a credible, long-term partner capable of delivering large-scale, sustainable projects in a transparent way.
Von der Leyen hinted that the total investment volume could even reach €400 billion by 2027, reinforcing Europe’s ambition to rival other global infrastructure initiatives such as China’s Belt and Road.
European leaders repeatedly highlighted that the initiative’s strength lies in partnership — with national governments, the private sector, and international institutions. “We are building bridges that respect sovereignty and sustainability,” said EU High Representative Josep Borrell.
The Road Ahead
Despite the optimism, speakers acknowledged the challenges: turning financial pledges into tangible progress on the ground, ensuring that local communities benefit directly, and keeping environmental and labor standards high. Mobilising private investment remains another key hurdle, especially in regions where regulatory or political risks discourage investors.
Still, the atmosphere in Brussels was one of determination. Participants agreed that Global Gateway represents a new way of doing global cooperation — one focused on fairness, local ownership, and shared prosperity.
A Confident Europe on the Global Stage
For partner regions, the Forum’s outcomes could mean more than just infrastructure. They signal opportunities for education, employment, and sustainable growth. For Europe, it reinforces its role as a reliable global actor, promoting stability through partnership rather than dependency.
The 2025 Forum showed that Brussels is not only the political heart of Europe — it’s becoming a central meeting point for global transformation.
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