Global Gateway: A Green Corridor preserving the last lungs of the earth through green economic growth

Today at Davos, European Commissioner for International partnerships Jozef Síkela confirmed EU support for the groundbreaking programme called the Green Corridor Kivu-Kinshasa, just announced by President of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi. This support to DRC’s Green Corridor is a transformative Global Gateway initiative which aims to help establish a sustainable 2,600 km corridor connecting Eastern DRC to Kinshasa and the Atlantic Coast covering 540,000 km2. It is expected to improve the livelihoods of DRC’s citizens through increased agricultural production and inclusive economic development whilst preserving DRC’s unique biodiversity considered as the last lungs of the earth.

European Commissioner Síkela said:” The Green Corridor is more than just transport infrastructure. It is a lifeline for green economic transformation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is what the Global Gateway is about: by connecting communities in partner countries, empowering local producers, fostering environmental protection and improving security, this initiative lays the foundation for a greener and more prosperous future. It also represents a step toward mobilising European and local private sector and building the infrastructure and governance needed to unlock the full potential of the corridor for the benefit of all”.

This Global Gateway initiative is designed to achieve three strategic objectives for the DRC’s long-term development:

• Enhance connectivity: Bridging Eastern and Western DRC to facilitate the transportation of important commodities and unlock sustainable development opportunities along the corridor.
• Strengthen agricultural value chains: Supporting local smallholder producers and transformation through agroecological practices that respect biodiversity, while boosting livelihoods and regional security.
• Protect biodiversity and human rights through improved governance, notably the establishment of the community reserve following a free prior informed consent of the local communities regarding economic development and biodiversity conservation on their land. 

Once fully operational through the mobilisation of private sector and the support of Team Europe, the Green Corridor will facilitate the annual transport of 1 million tons of agricultural products from the Kivu region to Kinshasa, including a flow of goods from the capital to the East as well.  It will straddle the strategic continental corridors namely Corridor 6 (Douala – Kampala) and Corridor 8 (Mombasa – Kisangani), which are jointly supported by the African Union and the European Union.

The Green Corridor will be realised through investments in high Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) quality infrastructure, policy and technical assistance, and support for an inclusive green and circular economy. Additionally, trade assistance will enhance the development of sustainable value chains. A mapping of key ecosystems along the corridor will be achieved.

Environment

The Green Corridor will leverage existing investments in three NaturAfrica landscapes in DRC: Virunga Landscape in the East, renowned for its unparalleled biodiversity and conservation potential. Yangambi Landscape, located on the outskirts of Kisangani, serving as a hub for ecological research and sustainable practices. Salonga/Mbandaka Landscape, downstream towards Kinshasa, a critical area for biodiversity and local economic development. 

Background

The European Union (EU) and its Member States have a long-standing commitment to the area encompassed by the Green Corridor. Over the past decade, this support has reached approximately €1 billion, shared between the EU (€495 million) and five Member States active in the DRC, Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Sweden (€575 million). These investments cover a wide range of critical sectors, including protected area conservation, agricultural value chains, energy, security, and transport. The new support program for the Green Corridor takes this commitment further with an additional €78.6 million.

Taking place from January 20-24, the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting brings together approximately 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries. As the world gathers in Davos to discuss the future Global Gateway is the European Union’ strategy towards a transformative change. It is not only about infrastructure, but also a vision for a globally connected, resilient, and prosperous future. Global Gateway invites governments, the private sector and local communities to come together to forge strong economies, expand market access, innovate across industries and create new jobs. Global Gateway, launched by EU President Ursula von der Leyen in 2021, is a €300 billion strategy designed to boost high-quality infrastructure and create long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships across five key sectors: digital, health, transport, energy, and education & research.