On 9 October 2025, the Global Gateway Forum 2025 opened in Brussels, convening heads of state, business executives, development institutions, and civil society. The opening plenary included keynote addresses and statements by participating presidents, setting the tone for two days of high-level dialogue on global connectivity, strategic partnerships, and sustainable investment.
In her address, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, reflected on the changing global environment and Europe’s evolving role. She warned that “tariffs and trade barriers are back as a tool of geopolitics and geoeconomics,” and noted that the EU had already mobilised more than €306 billion, surpassing the original €300 billion target. She expressed confidence that with Global Gateway, “we will surpass €400 billion by 2027,” underscoring Europe’s ambition to scale up its external investment strategy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa followed in the opening session, emphasizing Africa’s stake in the Forum’s agenda. He underscored that enhanced trade, investment, and cooperation with Europe are critical for African development. Ramaphosa also spoke of a renewed momentum for peace and progress, saying he “felt the energy for making peace” when engaging with regional leaders and stakeholders.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda also delivered a notable speech. He urged a redefinition of cooperation based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit, rather than aid conditioned by compliance. As he put it: “The answer is not to retreat or turn inwards. Our economies and security are intertwined in ways that cannot be reversed.” He insisted that “a true and lasting partnership must be equal, with shared risk and reward.” Kagame pointed to Rwanda’s collaboration with the EU in setting up a BioNTech mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility as an example of what balanced, forward-looking cooperation can look like. He concluded by echoing Ramaphosa’s optimistic note: “We felt the positive energy about business, investment, peace.”
Beyond speeches, the Forum enabled the European Commission and multilateral institutions such as the World Bank Group to deepen coordination. In a joint announcement, von der Leyen declared: “Today, we are taking our partnership with the World Bank to the next level … to crowd in maximum private capital.” World Bank President Ajay Banga added: “Creating jobs is a strategic choice … Jobs created in emerging economies expand local opportunity while fuelling global demand.”
Over the two days (9–10 October 2025), sessions ranged from transport and energy connectivity to digital sovereignty, scale-up investment mechanisms, and regional corridors. The aim was to shift the narrative from donor-recipient transactions toward strategic, sustainable, and mutually beneficial projects.
The Forum’s speeches and commitments framed an ambitious vision: Europe seeks to reimagine its role as a partner (not just a financier), and leaders like Kagame and Ramaphosa stressed that Africa expects equality, shared ownership, and genuine risk-sharing. Whether those rhetorical commitments translate into enduring results will be the real test.
