EU-Central Asia relations – a BusinessEurope position paper

Over the past years, there has been an increasing interest among the EU and its economic operators in the Central Asia region, exemplified by the fact that the EU is the main trading partner for the region and the biggest foreign investor . At the same time, the EU is facing significant competition in the region. For European companies, challenges remain, including the need for an improved business climate and enhancing the region’s ability to attract and maintain investments.

In an environment of increasing uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, it is more clearly understood that enhanced trade and economic relations between the EU and Central Asia countries can also contribute to goals related to economic security and the resilience of supply chains. The region is resource-rich, for instance in the areas of energy and critical raw materials, providing key inputs for the energy and digital transitions. At the same time, the region sits at crucial transport corridors, connecting Europe and Asia.

In this respect, BusinessEurope welcomes the decision to upgrade relations between the EU and Central Asia to a strategic partnership, taken on 4 April 2025, during the 1st EU-Central Asia Summit that took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The EU and its Central Asian counterparts should now focus on the delivery of concrete results as outlined in the Annex of the Joint Declaration. The European business community is committed to supporting these efforts.