Where we work

Asia and Central Asia are crucial European Union partners – economically, politically and culturally. The region accounts for more than half of the world’s population, a quarter of global economic wealth and contains key energy resources. Poverty remains a significant challenge as the region is still home to two-thirds of the world’s poorest people. These pages reflect the main work we are undertaking in each country, and also at a regional level, on sustainable development.

 06.12.2011- The European Union and the Government of Vietnam have today signed a new financing agreement for the "Health Sector Policy Support Programme", in the presence of Mr Nguyen Sinh Hung, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam and Trade Commissioner, Karel De Gucht.
The Financing Agreement, for €39.25 million, was signed by Mr Vuong Dinh Hue, Minister of Finance, representing the Vietnamese Government, and Mr Dirk Meganck, Director for Asia, EuropeAid Development and Cooperation Directorate General, acting on behalf of the European Commission.

11.04.11 - The “Eco-Friendly Pro-Poor Bamboo Production” project, funded by the EU under the Switch Asia Programme, operates in the Chinese region of Sichuan. It promotes the use of bamboo in place of timber or other non-renewable building materials, such as concrete and steel. By enhancing the bamboo industry, it seeks to create employment and enhance the livelihood opportunities of the less fortuned in society. An information session about the sustainable advantages and investment opportunities of bamboo will be organised on 20 april 2011 in Beijing.

09/02/2011 – The Institution Building and Partnership Programme (IBPP) in Uzbekistan focuses supports civil society projects that have a particular impact on vulnerable groups in society. 22 projects have been implemented in Uzbekistan since 2002. A new Call for Proposals has now been launched. The deadline for the submission of full applications is 31 May 2011. The overall allocated budget for the Call is € 1 million.

Understanding China is a project co-financed by the European Commission aiming to deepen European businesses' knowledge of China. It provides research, networking and dissemination of information on China to the European business and scientific community. Part of the project is a high-quality training programme for executives working on international trade and/or China related issues from different European business representative organisations. Besides the on-line courses, the participants will have one week of training in Belgium, one in Shanghai and a one-week study visit to Beijing. The application deadline for the 3rd cycle of the Understanding China Training Programme is 1 May 2011.