Global Gateway Forum : Advancing Connectivity, Strategic Partnerships

Within the framework of promoting strategic partnerships for more resilient economies, representatives from governments, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society organisations met in Brussels, Belgium from October 9-10, 2025 under the banner of the second edition of the Global Gateway Forum. External Relations Minister, Mbella Mbella represented the President of the Republic at the meeting whose keynote address was delivered by the President of the European Union Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. 
Indeed, Global Gateway is the European Union’s external investment strategy to build smart, clean, and secure connections in the digital, energy, and transport sectors, as well as strengthen health, education and research systems globally. To that effect, the Bruxelles forum focused on advancing global connectivity in the face of geopolitical and geo-economic challenges, while also building on the success of the inaugural forum that held in 2023. The objective was to explore innovative strategies for scaling-up Global Gateway investments in partner countries with member States highlighting their priority areas during different panel discussions.
Noting that the global context is characterised by highly competitive and transactional politics, tariffs and trade barriers as a tool of geopolitical aspects, export controls as a tool of statecraft to damage competiveness, weaponised dependencies including those created by unsustainable foreign investment which have left too many countries burdened with unsustainable debts, the President of the European Union Commission said it was time for advanced economies, emerging markets and developing nations to brainstorm on diversifying partnerships, ensure acces...