Shillong, June 2023: With an objective to boost smart, green and secure connectivity investments in North Eastern States of India, European Union (EU)-India Global Gateway conference was inaugurated in Shillong, Meghalaya on 1^st June. Organized by the Delegation of the European Union to India and Bhutan, the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Asian Confluence, the two-day conference brings together public and private stakeholders to enhance connectivity policy dialogue and investments between the EU, India’s Eastern and North-Eastern States (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim) and its immediate neighbours (Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal)

The conference aims to enhance dialogue and identify priority connectivity needs in the region. It was inaugurated by Mr. Conrad Kongkal Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, and Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs, in the presence of Mr. Koen Doens, Director General, Directorate General for International Partnerships, European Commission, Mr. Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to India and Bhutan and Mr. Santosh Jha, Ambassador of India to the European Union. Senior government officials of the North Eastern States, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh and stakeholders from the private sector will be participating in the conference.

The conference is organized as part of the EU’s Global Gateway. This initiative will help to map out the existing connectivity projects in North-East across three Global Gateway priorities – digital, climate & energy, transport,– with a view to identifying gaps and opportunities for future EU India cooperation. The recently held EU and India Trade and Technology Council also recognised these as key deliverables.

At the conference, Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mr. Conrad Kongkal Sangma emphasised that the rich cultural diversity, abundant natural resources, and vast borders of North East region  presents vast opportunities that the EU and India can leverage through their partnership. Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs spoke about ‘connectivity’ and how it plays a crucial role in not only attracting investments, promoting trade, making business operations easier, but also helps in generating opportunities for  MSMEs, and improving skillset of the masses.

Mr. Koen Doens, Director General, Directorate General for International Partnerships, European Commission said, “Global Gateway is part of the positive agenda we are implementing under our partnership with India. We very much welcome the Union Cabinet’s approval of the CITIIS 2.0 programme. We look forward to helping deliver better connectivity in the North East of India, as Team Europe, for which this conference can play a significant role in generating new ideas.”

Speaking at the event, EU Ambassador to India Mr. Ugo Astuto said, “Through Global Gateway the EU and India can work together for sustainable and resilient infrastructure. This is also true for the North East, which has much to gain from enhanced connectivity with the rest of India and the region.”

The insights generated through the discussions will complement the findings of the mapping study to identify the priority investment needs in the region as per five Global Gateway sectors serving as a stepping-stone towards drafting an “EU-India North East Investment Pipeline Roadmap 2025”. The initial mapping has identified 120 projects across all five sectors (Digital, Climate & Energy, Transport, Education & Research, Health) of the Global Gateway led by Team Europe and Indian stakeholders, international organisations and partner countries.

To promote jointly a transparent, viable, inclusive, sustainable, comprehensive, and rules-based approach to connectivity, the EU and India signed a connectivity partnership during the leaders’ meeting held in May 2021.

EU’s Global Gateway: European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. It stands for sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet, to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from climate change and protecting the environment, to improving health security and boosting competitiveness and global supply chains. Global Gateway projects are driving sustainable and transparent investment in Europe's partner countries all around the world. Across the world, Global Gateway aims to mobilise €300 billion in investments between 2021 and 2027 with a mix of grants, concessional loans and guarantees to de-risk private sector investments.

The Global Gateway is the EU’s contribution to narrowing the global investment gap worldwide. It is in line with the commitment of the G7 leaders from June 2021 to launch a values-driven, high-standard and transparent infrastructure partnership to meet global infrastructure development needs. The Global Gateway is also fully aligned with the UN’s Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Paris Agreement.