Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Last week, the Europe-Uzbekistan Association for Economic Cooperation (EUROUZ), organized & co-hosted two important events that underlined a burgeoning commitment to fortify relations between Uzbekistan, Central Asia and the European Union. These events, which focused on highlighting Uzbekistan’s relations with the EU, have not only highlighted the potential for collaborative growth but also paved the way for a future where Central Asia and Europe move together towards closer economic collaboration.

In the framework of the Global Gateway Investors Forum in Brussels, Belgium on Sustainable Transport Connectivity between Europe and Central Asia, organized by Directorate General for International Partnerships at the European Commission, EUROUZ, in collaboration with the Mission of Uzbekistan to the EU and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, successfully hosted Uzbekistan's national session titled "Improving Regional Connectivity: Uzbekistan's Strategic Role in the Central Asia-Europe Middle Corridor".

Distinguished speakers, including First Deputy Minister of Transport Mamanbiy Omarov, Zsuzsanna Hargitai of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), William Tompson from the OECD, and Eugene Seah of the Port of Baku, provided insights into how European investments and expertise could be strategically utilized to bolster Uzbekistan’s role in the Middle Corridor. Their contributions underscored the immense opportunities that lie in not just bridging geographical divides but also offering profound insights into enhancing connectivity between Europe and Central Asia. The session highlighted Uzbekistan's key role in enhancing Europe-Central Asia connectivity. The event recording is available on the EUROUZ.eu platforms.

The Global Gateway Investors Forum in Brussels was attended by over 550 people from Europe and Central Asia.

The second event, which took place on Friday, 02-02-2024, at the United Nations in Brussels, was organized by EUROUZ in cooperation with the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) and the UNDP Brussels & brought together key stakeholders for a follow-up discussion to the Global Gateway Investors Forum. The event brought together Central Asia’s ambassadors to the European Union and key international experts to discuss & explore avenues for enhancing economic growth and integration of Central Asian countries into global supply chains. With over 50 in-person and 150 unique online viewers, this event underscored the growing interest and commitment to strengthening EU-Central Asia economic relations.

The roundtable focused on enhancing Middle Corridor efficiency, boosting EU investments in Central Asia, and supporting the region's shift to sustainable economies. It highlighted the importance of collaboration for strengthening European supply chains in a challenging geopolitical environment and evolving EU-Central Asian ties. The opening session introduced the EU-Central Asia Investors Forum, with EUROUZ's Mr. Oybek Shaykhov and ambassadors from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan discussing stronger EU partnership and economic integration. 

The discussion emphasized attracting European investment to sectors like energy, technology, and sustainability. A subsequent session, led by Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, delved into the Middle Corridor and Central Asia's significance in the EU's global strategy, with speakers Camilla Brückner, Director of UNDP Brussels Representation Office; Dmitry Mariyasin, Deputy Executive Secretary at UN Economic Commission for Europe; Emmanuel Dupuy, President of Institut Prospective et Securité en Europe (IPSE); Katarzyna Wawiernia, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Kazakhstan.

The event concluded with the summary of the Director of the UNDP Brussels, highlighting a step towards sustainable cooperation with Central Asia, and a networking lunch to foster further collaboration. This roundtable set a new standard for EU-Central Asia cooperation, emphasizing economic integration, sustainability, and mutual growth, laying the foundation for future initiatives.

The events last week underscored the strategic importance of Uzbekistan and Central Asia in the broader EU global engagement strategy, establishing a new benchmark for cooperation. They emphasized economic integration, sustainability, and mutual development, laying a robust foundation for future initiatives and deeper collaboration between Europe and Central Asian countries.