As global challenges intensify, from climate change and digital inequality to fragile supply chains and geopolitical tensions, the European Union is stepping up its response with the Global Gateway strategy. This strategic investment framework is designed to reshape global development by fostering sustainable, high-quality infrastructure and equal partnerships across key regions. In this article, we highlight how Invest International contributes through the TeamNL and Team Europe approach, showcasing several Global Gateway projects.
The Global Gateway
The Global Gateway is the European Union’s strategy to promote sustainable, high-quality infrastructure investments worldwide. It aims to:
- Strengthen digital, energy, transport, health, and education systems.
- Mobilize up to €300 billion by 2027 through a Team Europe approach with EU institutions, member states, development banks, and the private sector collaborate.
- Offer a values-driven alternative to other global infrastructure initiatives, focusing on quality, transparency, and equal partnerships.
It is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, and seeks to close the global investment gap while advancing EU strategic interests.
Why Global Gateway?
In today’s geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape, countries are rethinking their supply chains, connectivity, and partnerships. Global Gateway responds to:
- The need for secure and resilient infrastructure.
- The shift from traditional aid to strategic investment.
- The EU’s ambition to be a credible global actor in development finance, especially in competition with initiatives like China’s Belt and Road.
Critical raw materials, supply chains, and dependencies on foreign suppliers are identified as key areas where the Global Gateway can play a role.
Global Gateway Forum 2025
At the Global Gateway Forum 2025, held in Brussels on 9–10 October, the EU convenes governments, financiers, and civil society to scale up investment and cooperation. Invest International participates as part of Team NL and the broader Team Europe approach. Showcasing its blended finance model, project portfolio, and strategic contributions to infrastructure development in emerging markets.
The Dutch contribution
The Dutch contribution to the Global Gateway focuses on impact in partner countries, improving EU competitiveness and ensuring access for Dutch and EU businesses to projects and financing opportunities. In it lies an important role for Invest International, due to its ability to bridge the gap between public and private finance. This integrated approach enables to connect Dutch and international businesses with impactful projects that drive sustainable growth, innovation, and development. From early-stage project development to large-scale implementation.
The role of Invest International
For Invest International the Global Gateway represents a natural alignment with its mission: financing impactful international projects that serve both global needs and Dutch interests. As a key contributor to the Team Europe approach Invest International brings together aid and trade. To deliver high-impact, investment-ready projects across emerging markets. Working closely with other Team NL financiers like FMO, Atradius Dutch State Business, and Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
In partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we leverage diplomatic channels to identify opportunities and ensure alignment with local needs and EU values.
“We combine financing with Dutch expertise to deliver impactful solutions abroad and economic value at home” – Melanie Maas Geesteranus, CEO of Invest International.
The Lobito Corridor
The EU–Netherlands Global Gateway project in Angola’s Lobito Corridor illustrates how Invest International works to translate major infrastructure initiatives into economic development. As part of Team Europe, Invest International is leading implementation of the Lobito Corridor Logistics Development project, supporting Angola’s ambition to become a regional logistics hub.
At the heart of this effort lies the Caála Logistics Platform. This is a central node connecting agribusiness, light industry, and mineral value chains across Angola, Zambia, and the DRC. With over €100 million in enabling infrastructure already committed to the Lobito Corridor by a variety of partners, this project builds on strong public investment to attract private capital and operational expertise.
Invest International’s approach reflects the essence of the Global Gateway: moving beyond hard infrastructure to create functioning ecosystems for trade, investment, and skills. Our work combines transaction advisory and deal structuring to secure bankable projects with local economic development planning that links SMEs and communities to new market opportunities.
This initiative supports:
- EU–Angola trade relations
- Critical raw material supply chain resilience
- Showcasing Dutch expertise in logistics and corridor development
Through collaboration with the Government of Angola, the EU, and other partners, Invest International is helping turn the Lobito Corridor into a driver of inclusive growth.
Coastal protection Togo & beyond
One of West-Africa’s main trade corridors runs between Lagos and Abidjan, along the coastline. This coast is increasingly threatened by erosion and floods. Invest International is developing a Coastal Protection project in Togo, as part of the broader WorldBank West Africa Coastal Areas (WACA) initiative.
At the Global Gateway Forum 2025 Invest International, together with the Togolese delegation and Boskalis, will celebrate the start of the coastal protection works, co-financed with the World Bank and the French Agence Française de Développement.
Combining Dutch coastal expertise nature based solutions with international collaboration can deliver high-quality, socially and environmentally responsible infrastructure. It also integrates nature-based solutions to enhance resilience and sustainability.
The project is situated along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor, a key infrastructure route under the EU Global Gateway. While the Netherlands is not formally involved in the corridor, this initiative highlights the potential for Dutch expertise to contribute meaningfully to regional resilience.
For Togo, following the successful completion of phase one by Boskalis, phase two moves into implementation with a total infrastructure scope of €55 million. Invest International is contributing €2 million for feasibility studies and €23 million for infrastructure, alongside Agence Française de Développement with €20 million and the Government of Togo, who are active co-financing partners.
“Based on our work in Benin and now in Togo, we are ready to take larger and connected projects in a Team Europe and World Bank approach” – Lara Muller, Director New Business at Invest International.
Other Global Gateway examples
Invest International is part of other Global Gateway initiatives like:
- Northern Corridor Agrilogistics (Kenya–Uganda–Rwanda): Enhancing East Africa’s agri-trade by investing in cold chains and transport infrastructure to boost food security and smallholder exports.
- Green Hydrogen in Namibia: Supporting Namibia’s green hydrogen sector with infrastructure co-financing and partnerships that align with EU climate goals and showcase Dutch innovation.
- Just Energy Transition in Indonesia: Facilitating Indonesia’s shift from coal to renewables through clean energy investments, policy support, and private sector engagement. Thereby advancing climate justice and inclusive growth.
