Senior Expert n°1: Rail transport Expert

The Global Gateway is the EU’s contribution to narrowing the global investment gap worldwide. It is in line with the commitment of the G7 leaders from June 2021 to launch a values-driven, high-standard, and transparent infrastructure partnership to meet global infrastructure development needs.

The LAC Railways Working Group (WG), launched in June 2024, rapidly became the most advanced among the other regional initiatives. It supports the EU railway industry to gain access to LA markets with the aim to participate in key tenders/projects. To this end, it is essential to deepen the understanding of the railway markets by combining forces, considering different geographical contexts, listening to national priorities, concerns, opportunities and interests about railway plans. The objective is to identify potential projects of interest for European industry and available sources of funding to support EU efforts. 

The work of the Group has enabled the selection of project priorities, the design of tailor-made action plans that can be modulated as need arises. In some countries (e.g. Colombia and Costa Rica) where projects are already ongoing, working groups have been established and are operational at bilateral level and are managed by the EU Delegation (EUD) in the country. As new opportunities emerge in other countries (e.g. Brazil, Argentina), similar ad-hoc groups will be expected to be set up at country level.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Team Europe is already investing in Cameroon where tenders are soon to be launched, in the development of the Lobito Corridor including the renovation of the DRC railway section and  a potential greenfield railway section in Angola-Zambia is taking place at high pace. Several other investments have been advanced in Gabon or Mozambique, with other advanced initiatives in Ivory Coast, Southern and Eastern Africa. During the first year of the WG, structured exchanges with regional organisations such as SARA enabled a clearer picture of ongoing initiatives and potential areas for EU engagement.

In Asia, the focus remains in Central Asia with the EU initiatives along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and the development/upgrading of various railway sections, with complementary engagements in the Caucasus and EU neighbouring regions. Additional investments have been explored or monitored in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam and other countries with dynamic and expanding railway markets. Targeted desk reviews conducted in 2025 provided an initial basis for project identification and future RWG activity.

The first phase of the assignment also generated important methodological advances, most notably the Case Builder concept, the shadow Operator Concept, and initial integration with the Global Gateway Investment Hub, while consolidating structured cooperation with private sector stakeholders. Building on these achievements, the second phase seeks to reinforce and expand EU action to increase European presence in partner countries’ rail markets.

The present request for services seeks to update, reinforce and extend the duration of this support to strengthen European presence in partner countries’ markets. This task includes, inter-alia, leading the coordination of these Working Groups, facilitating dialogue with governments and national institutions, providing guidance and stimulating interest and bringing together various actors (IFIs, private sector, etc.), while taking into account companies’ suggestions, ensuring fair competition in tendering processes, and thus creating the conditions to seize market opportunities.

Global objective: Strengthen the development of the railways sector and the increase the involvement of the EU industry in partner countries.

Specific objective: Provide support to DG INTPA in pursuing its objective of increasing EU rail companies participation in the targeted markets, including through the coordination of the work of the Railway Working Groups and by providing technical support to facilitate dialogue between the partner countries and the EU private sector, in close collaboration with the EU Delegations.

Еxpected outputs in relation to GGTSM contract: 

Activity Area O1 – Initial mapping and establishing national and regional quality infrastructure and connectivity sector related policies including planning, regulations and reforms with a focus on the transport sector

Activity Area 04 – Operationalisation of the EU connectivity strategy

Location: Brussels