From 25 to 27 November, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela will be in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to advance the development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, a flagship initiative of the Global Gateway strategy aimed at linking Europe and Central Asia while fostering prosperity and stability.

Tomorrow, Commissioner Síkela will participate in the 3rd EU-Central Asia Economic Forum. It follows the first EU–Central Asia Summit in April 2025, which reaffirmed the strong and growing partnership between the two regions. The Forum brings together representatives of the EU and its Member States, Central Asian governments, international organisations, financial institutions and the private sector to strengthen economic ties and promote sustainable development. It serves as a platform to strengthen cooperation to enhance the business and investment environment, facilitate trade and align regulatory frameworks, boost investment opportunities and public-private partnerships, and promote sustainable and responsible supply chains, particularly for critical raw materials.

On Thursday, Commissioners Síkela and Kos will take part in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and Connectivity Investors Forum, which will gather the EU, the Black Sea and Central Asian partner countries to advance the cross-regional connectivity agenda. The Forum will review progress made since the first Investors Forum for EU–Central Asia Transport Connectivity held in Brussels in January 2024, and the Cross-Regional Ministerial Meeting held in Luxembourg on 20 October. The programme will feature high-level thematic sessions on transport and logistics, covering both soft and hard connectivity aspects such as regulatory harmonisation, infrastructure investment and digitalisation of trade corridors.

During their visit, the Commissioners will meet high-level government representatives from partner countries, sign bilateral and regional agreements on critical raw materials, infrastructure, energy networks, border management. More details about the agreements will be available on the DG INTPA and DG ENEST press sections at the end of the visit. Both Commissioners will also participate in a press point on Thursday at +/- 15:45 UZT, which will be broadcast on EBS.

Audiovisual material of the visit will be equally available on EBS.