The Commissioner responsible for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, visited Cambodia and Laos between 12 and 15 March to push forward the EU’s ‘Global Gateway’ investment plan (see EUROPE 13280/6) and strengthen the partnership with the two countries.
She met government representatives such as the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, as well as representatives of business, civil society and young people.
In Cambodia, the Commissioner launched two ‘Team Europe’ initiatives, one focusing on “green agro-industry and decent jobs”, worth around €1 billion, and the other on “green factories and decent jobs”, worth just over €400 million.
During her visit, Mrs Urpilainen expressed her wish that “EU-Cambodia cooperation should become a model for partnerships that thrive on respect for international values and principles, in perfect harmony with our ‘Global Gateway’ investment strategy”.
The Commissioner also signed four financial agreements covering sustainable agriculture and food systems, sustainable energy practices in industry, technical education and business expertise.
She also inaugurated the ‘Global Gateway’ programme in “Education for Green and Digital Jobs”, aimed at training professional technicians in industrial sectors and increasing the number of study grants.
In Laos, the Commissioner held talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saleumxay Kommasith, on bilateral cooperation and the EU-ASEAN partnership, as the country currently holds the ASEAN presidency. She also launched the ‘Team Europe’ partnership to stimulate sustainable trade and investments in agriculture and forestry (TICAF), focusing on the coffee, tea and forestry value chains, the rehabilitation of road infrastructure to facilitate trade with the East and West, and a customs programme. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)