Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, took the lead in hosting and launching the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on October 25th and 26th. This event convened more than 40 high-ranking government representatives from EU and partner countries, as well as delegates from financial institutions such as the EIB and EBRD, participants from the private sector, civil society, and international organizations.
You can also read: Global Gateway Forum: PM Seeks EU’s GSP+ Facility After LDC Graduation
The Global Gateway Forum, centered around the theme ‘Stronger Together through Sustainable Investment,’ highlighted the ongoing progress in implementing the Global Gateway strategy, emphasizing transparent and high-quality investments in global connectivity, healthcare, education, and research systems. Ursula von der laid out the aims and objectives of the Global Gateway Initiative, and also discussed the approach for reaching them.
Bangladesh’s Economic Renaissance: The Sheikh Hasina Legacy
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in her second term leading Bangladesh, passionately discussed her country’s accomplishments. It’s worth emphasizing that Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate is currently one of the highest in the world, surpassing even the EU, the UK, and the United States, a feat that is truly exceptional.
Sheikh Hasina said, “Bangladesh is now the world’s 35th largest economy. Our 70-billion-dollar economy has grown to 465 billion in less than 15 years. We have lifted millions of our people out of poverty. Extreme poverty has come down to 5.6% from 25.1% in 2006. Bangladesh is set to graduate from UN LDC status in 2026”.
Calling for an extension of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) for Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized the importance of six additional years of favorable business conditions from the European Union (EU) to aid the nation’s journey toward prosperity following its LDC graduation.
There were multiple bilateral meetings with prominent EC representatives, which included Ursula von der Leyen, Trade Commissioner and Executive Vice President of the EC Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Crisis Management of the EC Janez Lenarcic, Vice-President of the European Parliament Nicola Beer, European Investment Bank President Dr Werner Hoyer, and Commissioner for International Partnerships of the EC Jutta Urpilainen. Rohingya issue, climate change, and diplomatic relations have taken center stage in meetings with EU leaders.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, who attended the meeting, mentioned that everyone he met during the talks had expressed high praise for Bangladesh’s remarkable progress under the wise leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Responding to a question, he emphasized that the most significant aspect was the Prime Minister’s invitation to participate in this global forum merely two months before the forthcoming general election, demonstrating unwavering global and EU support for her.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with 18 other family members, was tragically assassinated by renegade army officers in August 1975. Only Sheikh Hasina and her sister, who were in Europe at the time, managed to survive. Throughout the years, Sheikh Hasina herself faced multiple assassination attempts. Her emotional words concluded with a heartfelt appeal to world leaders for peace, which earned her a standing ovation from the delegates.
“We are confident that this initiative will enable developing countries like Bangladesh to fight climate change, to address infrastructure gaps, invest in renewable energy, digital innovation, healthcare, education and much more. The Global Gateway is a sign of friendship, of partnership, of trust, of symbolic interdependence”
-Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Macky Sall’s Vision for Africa-EU Partnerships
Senegal’s President, Macky Sall, touched upon his country’s vision for enhanced cooperation with the EU, underscoring the economic gains stemming from the development of new transportation infrastructure. A prime example is the 3523-kilometer Beira-Lobito Trans-African Corridor, also recognized as Trans-African Highway 9, which promises to deliver advantages to no fewer than six African nations.
The Global Gateway Forum highlights Europe’s quest to best interact with its partners in advancing the Corridor. The assurance of resilient supply chains, crucial for maintaining consistent access to critical raw materials, not only carries economic advantages but also stands as a fundamental requirement for the green and digital transformations at the core of the Global Gateway initiative.
President Sall also addressed healthcare requirements, emphasizing Africa’s potential to locally manufacture essential medications. He intends to delve into this topic during his forum discussion with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization.
Edi Rama on Albania’s EU Membership Aspirations
Edi Rama, who is currently serving his third term as Prime Minister of Albania, a unique accomplishment in Albanian political history, discussed his nation’s future integration into the European Union. Albania submitted its application for EU membership on April 24th, 2009, and officially obtained EU candidate status in June 2014. The European Union conducted its inaugural intergovernmental conference with Albania in July 2022.
Prime Minister Rama conveyed to forum attendees that European Union membership would represent “a legacy to leave for our children.” During a recent trip to Tirana, Ursula von der Leyen assured Prime Minister Rama “Albania is on track to join the European Union. As you know, enlargement is at the top of our priorities. This is actually where it belongs. Because we want our partners and neighbors to join and make our Union complete.”
Message From Goodwill and Other International Partnerships
Concluding the opening session of the forum, Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, shared a message of goodwill. Subsequently, in a pre-recorded video, Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan and current Chair of the Group of Seven (G7), extended his support to the forum.
Following the commencement of the plenary session, Viet Nam and the European Investment Bank formalized their partnership by signing a memorandum of understanding. This agreement reflects their shared dedication to establishing a multi-project credit facility valued at €500 million to advance the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in Viet Nam.
The Global Gateway Forum 2023 is scheduled to end on Thursday, the 26th, at 12:30 PM.
In conclusion, the Global Gateway Forum marked a significant step towards sustainable global connectivity. Leaders from around the world discussed transformative initiatives, including President Macky Sall’s vision for African-EU partnerships, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remarkable achievements in Bangladesh, and Prime Minister Edi Rama’s aspirations for Albania’s EU membership. With the event’s closure, one thing is certain: a brighter future hinges on cooperation and inventive thinking.
