Global Gateway under the spotlight at Davos

On 21-23 January, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela participated in the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, Switzerland, to present the European Union’s flagship strategy, Global Gateway. It was the first time a European Commissioner for International Partnerships joined this world’s premier economic stage gathering thought leaders, innovators and global changemakers to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.

This year’s theme, “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”, emphasised the need for global cooperation to solve complex issues, and was an excellent opportunity to put Global Gateway under the spotlight. Through a series of high-profile panels and bilateral meetings, Commissioner Síkela demonstrated how the Global Gateway strategy can support sustainable development and promotes economic growth on a global scale. This event was also a good opportunity to engage with the private sector and discuss possibilities for its involvement.

Commissioner Jozef Síkela said, “The World Economic Forum in Davos provides a unique platform to address the most pressing challenges facing our world today, and also meet representatives of governments, international financial institutions, or global companies. It was a great opportunity to showcase how the European Union's Global Gateway strategy is shaping the future of sustainable development and global cooperation and what opportunities it offers to them. Through initiatives like the Green Corridor and innovative tools like the Global Green Bond, we are proving that partnerships between the EU, partner countries and the private sector can deliver smart and sustainable growth. Together, we can build win-win development models and lasting solutions that benefit both people and the planet." 

Several high-level panels on global sustainable development Commissioner Síkela participated in presented good opportunities to discuss the EU’s contribution through Global Gateway, and possibilities to secure financing to translate this strategy into tangible benefits for partner countries and for Europe:

• Commissioner Síkela was key-note speaker at the Davos panel about “Europe’s distinctive approach to international cooperation”. He could highlight Global Gateway as an innovative strategy that fosters economic development with partners, from vaccine production to strategic transport corridors, with a critical role for the private sector.
• Then he launched the Green Corridor initiative at the” Defending the earths last lung” Panel with H.M. The king of Belgians and President of the DRC Felix Tshisekedi. This illustrated what Global Gateway stands for when it comes to combining environmental preservation with sustainable economic development, creating thousands of jobs, and creating new opportunities for European companies. 
• At the high-level Panel “Powering Progress: Financing the Energy Transition”, commissioner Síkela focused on the need to pool public and private investments to support the global energy transition. He introduced the EU’s tools such as the Global Green Bond initiative to de-risk investments in clean energy.

In addition to these panels, Commissioner Síkela held numerous high-level bilateral meetings with key political and economic players to advance the Global Gateway strategy and strengthen ties with these decision-makers. He met Ilan Goldfajn, President of Inter-American Development Bank, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, King Phillipe of Belgium, Duma Gideon Boko, President of Botswana, Bill Gates, or Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of OECD.

Background

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, the EU’s Global Gateway strategy stands as a promising and ambitious path to 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. By 2027, it aims to reshape global infrastructure, providing secure and sustainable solutions that drive economic growth, resilience, and social inclusion. By strategically combining investments in infrastructure, technology and human resources, Global Gateway aims to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), deliver quality jobs, and open up new opportunities for innovation and growth.