Von der Leyen: EU ready to be partner of Central Asia, including in processing critical raw materials

The European Union (EU) is ready to be a partner with Central Asian countries not only in the extraction sector but also in the local processing of critical raw materials and the development of industrial potential, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said at the plenary session of the first EU-Central Asia Summit, Report informs.

“Europe's offer is different. We also want to be your partners in developing your local industries. The added value has to be local. Our track-record speaks for itself. European companies are already involved in raw materials here in Uzbekistan, with a €1.6 billion investment at the Almalyk copper mine. They do not just contribute to extracting minerals but also to processing them on site. This creates local jobs and local added value. But there is so much more we could do across the region,” von der Leyen stated.

“My second point concerns more cooperation on critical raw materials. Your countries are endowed with immense resources. The region has 40% of the global reserves of manganese, as well as lithium, graphite, and more. These raw materials are the lifeblood of the future global economy. Yet they are also a honeypot for global players. Some are only interested in exploiting and extracting,” she added.

The president further highlighted, “In an increasingly fragmented world, the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TITR) will boost connections between your five countries and Europe.”

“But infrastructure is not everything. Smooth border crossing within Central Asian and South Caucasus countries is also essential to reach the Black Sea. After three decades of closure, the opening of the borders of Armenia with Türkiye and Azerbaijan is going to be a game changer. And it will bring Europe and Central Asia closer together like never before,” von der Leyen said.