Global Gateway projects

Angola, Zambia, and the DRC are developing the Lobito transport corridor through a strategic partnership with the EU, the US, the ADB and the AFC.  This transport corridor will connect the southern part of the DRC and the north-western part of the Republic of Zambia to regional and global trade markets via the Port of Lobito in Angola.

As outlined in the recently signed MoU, between the EU its partners, the cooperation will focus on three areas: i) transport infrastructure investments; ii) measures to facilitate trade, economic development and transit; and iii) support to related sectors to fuel inclusive and sustainable economic growth and capital investment in the three African countries in the longer term.

Specifically, and for Finnish companies, this includes:

• developing clean energy projects to increase the power supply to surrounding communities,
• critical raw materials and clean energy sustainable value chain development,
• digital connectivity projects,
• agriculture value chains to enhance local food production,
• TVET and skills development for local workforce,
• support for SMEs and economic diversification,
• and engineering know-how in the form of surveys and planning.

The Lobito Corridor is also linked to the recently signed MoU between EU, DRC, and Zambia on strategic partnerships on critical raw materials value chains. The partnerships allow all sides to advance trade and investments into a secure, sustainable and resilient raw materials value chain, which is key to achieving the transition to climate-neutral and digitalised economies.

For more information, reach out to axel.sointu@finnpartnership.fi

• Project: Regional Teachers’ Initiative for Africa
• Funded and implemented by: Team Europe

In early 2023, the European Commission launched a Regional Teachers’ Initiative in Africa. Through the project, the European Union will invest around €100 million in education in Africa. The project aims to improve the quality of education in sub-Saharan Africa by focusing on improving teachers’ working conditions and teacher training. The challenges can be many: the profession of teaching can be unattractive, teachers lack professional development opportunities, resources, competences or support in their work, and initial teacher training may be insufficient in scope or quality.

Finland is actively involved in the project together with France, Germany and Belgium. The Finnish National Agency for Education and in particular the Finnish Centre of expertise in Education and Development (FinCEED) are involved in the design of the project. The Regional Teachers’ Initiative for Africa project will open up opportunities for Finnish organisations that have carried out teacher training projects or done research on teacher training.

Call for proposals for the various projects within the Regional Teachers’ Initiative will open next year. Finnpartnership’s Business Partnership Support enables Finnish organisations to look for potential partners or launch pilot projects already before the call for proposals, providing support and better chances for Finnish actors to participate in the Regional Teachers’ Initiative.

• Project: Inclusive Green Growth – Tsau //Khaeb National Park (HyphenSCDI)
• Funded and implemented by: Team Europe, Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen), Germany

Part of Team Europe’s “Inclusive Green Growth” project, German company Hyphen is investing €10 billion in Namibia to produce green hydrogen from wind and solar power. The project is part of a larger Team Europe project to develop access to renewable energy in Namibia. There is a demand for Finnish expertise, particularly in energy and water sectors.

• Project: Inclusive Green Growth
• Funded and implemented by: Team Europe

Part of Team Europe’s “Inclusive Green Growth” initiative, the project aims to promote responsible sourcing of critical raw materials and sustainable investment throughout the value chain. The project provides good opportunities for Finnish companies working in mining and water sectors. You can find more information about European Commission’s and Namibia’s strategic partnership here and Memorandum of Understanding here.

Namibian mining sector offers diverse market opportunities for Finnish operators. Namibia produces uranium, gold, tin, zinc, copper and battery minerals. In total, the mining sector accounts for about 13% of Namibia’s GDP and more than 60% of the country’s foreign trade earnings.

In Uganda several sectors, including infrastructure, mining, health and energy, are providing opportunities for investment and partnerships. Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has issued a report of bankable projects in the country which gives an overview of how each sector has developed in the recent years.

For example in the minerals sector, companies have developed viable investment projects and are currently looking for partnerships to implement them. In the health sector, the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Health is seeking private sector investment to increase energy supply in the low rural electrified areas, and to renovate and equip selected hospitals.

For the tourism sector, there has been identified several priority projects to be handled by both public and private sector entities. These include for example establishing the Lake Victoria Tourism circuit to enhance tourism activities and experiences around Entebbe for both domestic and regional visitors, and the construction of Hoima International Airport to essentially support the development and operation of the oil refinery as well as development and production of upstream oil.

The EU is supporting the development of the Port of Lumut, located on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Known as Lumut Maritime International City (LuMIC), the project provides opportunities for Finnish companies to invest in an industrial land base, in a port area that is strategically located in the Far East. The initiative is carried out by the economic development agency of the state of Perak, Malaysia (PKNPk), in collaboration with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International.

You can find more information on the project here and more about EU initiatives in Malaysia here.

The EU has started several projects in Cambodia with upcoming tenders for companies to take part in. Please see below the highlights and detailed information of each project here.

Bakheng Water Supply Project is a major infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing clean water access in Phnom Penh and Takhmao City. The project includes expanding water production facilities, transmission pipelines, and distribution networks. Upcoming tender(s): training centers (3.5M EUR), tender expected to be published in 2026; scholarships to study in Europe (1.5M EUR), tender for consultancy services expected in 2025 or 26. Contact person: Lenghour.KIET@eeas.europa.eu

Rural infrastructure development project aims to improve the living conditions in the targeted rural areas by climate resilient rehabilitation and upgrading of about 550 km of strategic rural roads; rehabilitation of complementary tertiary rural roads; construction of small-scale infrastructure to promote local development. Contact person: Lenghour.KIET@eeas.europa.eu

Sustainable assets for agricultural markets, business and trade programme aims to increase rural connectivity, enterprises and the rural economy sustainably by reducing multi-dimension poverty in Cambodia. There is an ongoing procurement for developing rural roads. Contact person: Lenghour.KIET@eeas.europa.eu

The EU-German CAPSAFE (Cambodia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems) project aims to enhance the sustainability, competitiveness, and inclusiveness of Cambodia’s agricultural sector, with a focus on cashew nut and pepper industries. The project is looking for EU companies (willing to invest in cashew and pepper) for exporting to EU and ASEAN markets. Interested companies can apply to get support from the project (max. EUR 50k), scheme to be launched on 25 May. Contact person: Sokunthea.BY@eeas.europa.eu

Indonesia is moving its capital from Jakarta to a new city named Nusantara in East Kalimantan.  The new capital is expected to relieve pressure on Jakarta, with the aim to build a smart, high tech and green metropolis, run on renewable energy. At the same time, this project will require a huge investment capacity from Indonesia’s government and international communities.

The government of Indonesia is enhancing its collaboration with different international organisations, DFIs and governments, including Finnish government and the Team Finland organisations. Team Finland, including Business Finland, has organised several events to introduce Finnish technologies to the government of Indonesia. The development of Nusantara will welcome international companies in different sectors, such as education, connectivity, health, digitalisation, energy, housing, technology, financial center and development, as well as waste management. Nusantara projects are public–private partnerships by nature. Of the projects, developing smart poles is now in the Proof of concept phase.

If you are interested to learn more about the process and collaboration opportunities, please contact Huong Phan: huong.phan@finnpartnership.fi.

Procurement expected:  Q3 2025 for main equipment package. 

Lead financier: Agence Française de Développement (AFD) 

Vietnam’s first pumped storage hydropower plant will play a vital role in energy balancing. Finnish companies with expertise in energy storage, grid integration, and civil engineering are encouraged to prepare for upcoming tenders. 

Under the EU Global Gateway Vietnam Just Energy Transition Partnership program, the Bac Ai pumped storage hydroelectric plant (1,200 MW) located in the Ninh Thuan province is the first pumped storage power project in Vietnam. The project aims to contribute to stabilizing the national power system and provide power to meet the peak load demand. It enables Vietnam’s energy transition towards increased contributions from renewable energy and thereby reduces dependency on fossil fuels. The total investment of Bac Ai project is about USD 900 million and co-financed by AFD, EIB, KfW and JICA. The project is currently undergoing due diligence for EDFI’s investment. Once the project has reached sufficient maturity, it will entail a concerted process by all entities involved, led by Vietnam Electricity (EVN). Numerous components of this sizeable investment project will be tendered through open and competitive procedures, both domestic and international, to which European private sector operators would be eligible to contest, directly or in consortium with Vietnamese companies. Finnish companies having relevant technical competence and technologies can contact Finnpartnership for further engagement. 

Finnish companies with expertise in energy storage, grid integration, and civil engineering are encouraged to prepare this upcoming tender. Tender will be published on donor website at AFD – France.

This project will expand the existing 400MW plant with an additional 200MW turbine with the aim to enhance the efficiency of water resource utilization, add capacity to the national power system, and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project costs are EUR 134m in total with EUR 65m by KfW in form of a promotional loan between KfW and EVN. The KfW loan will fund 2 packages, including the hydroelectric equipment. 

Opportunities include civil works, hydroelectric equipment, and sustainable infrastructure development. Construction is expected to begin in late 2025. 

Tender here.

Led by the Government of Bangladesh with support from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the EU, the project aims to improve ICT access and digital services in isolated and climate-vulnerable coastal areas.

• Phase 1: 20 islands, 77 unions, 701 villages – approx. 2 million people
• Scope includes:
  • Submarine, underground and aerial fibre cables
  • Digital labs, technical resource centres, and telemedicine facilities
• Total budget: USD 86 million
  • EIB: 50%
  • Government of Bangladesh: USD 28 million
  • EU: blended grant support
• Timeline: Implementation expected to begin in 2026

The Bangladesh Renewable Energy Facility (BREF) supports the deployment of solar and wind energy, and potentially energy storage, in collaboration with public utilities.

• Funding package:
  • EUR 350 million EIB loan (EU guaranteed)
  • EUR 45 million EU grant (including technical assistance)
  • Additional EUR 350 million expected from Team Europe partners
• Technical assistance: Provided by GOPA since September 2025
• Pipeline: Around 10 projects under development
• Timeline: First tenders expected mid-2026