Belt and Road Weekly Investor Intelligence #68

China’s 2022 infrastructure growth potential, misunderstandings about who is financing Iraq, lots of intelligence around the Caspian Sea, Central and South-East Asian regions, while China and Russia both make significant inroads into South America.

China Infrastructure Investment in 2022: Can it Support Economic Growth?  

Infrastructure spending has had a huge role to play in China’s meteoric economic rise over the past three decades. From laying hundreds and thousands of miles of railway tracks to building record-breaking skyscrapers, an eagerness to provide jobs and improve the quality of life for the population led to a construction boom that has continued to this day.  But can it continue? 

Alleged China-Iraq BRI Investments Did Not Happen 

Reuters claimed that Iraq had been the largest recipient of BRI funding, to the tune of some US$10.5 billion. As our sister facility, Asia Investment Research pointed out, no such investments were actually made.

China-Iraq Heats Up, A Pro-Silk Road Marches Take Place 

Iraq has become divided amongst politicians and businessmen, some of whom favor the US B3W route and others the China BRI option. To this end, peaceful demonstrations have been taking place in Baghdad, with pro-Belt and Road Initiative factions holding rallies and protesting against ‘American Imperialism’.

Needless to say, Western media haven’t been covering these protests.

The China-Russia Axis: What it is, and Why Does it Matter (Silk Road Briefing)  

We explain the background to the resurgent Beijing-Moscow axis and why they are developing a different agenda to that of the West.

Egypt, Courted by China and Russia, Sees Exports Rise (Silk Road Briefing) 

Egypt has become a primary investment destination as Cairo looks east, dissatisfied with Western terms of business and investment.

Baku’s Caspian Sea Port Cargo Turnover Up 14.6% (Silk Road Briefing)  

The Caspian is heating up as a maritime gateway between East and West.

Samarkand Airport Redevelopment (Silk Road Briefing) 

Uzbekistan is starting to become investor sexy.

Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Trade Turnover Up 19.5% (Silk Road Briefing) 

A big jump for a small economy. We look at why.

Thailand’s Laem Chabang Deepwater Sea Port to Begin Phase 3 Expansion (ASEAN Briefing) 

A major BRI project moves to Phase 3 of its gigantic development.

Indonesia Deregulates its Aviation Industry to Foreign Investment (ASEAN Briefing)  

Good news for foreign investors in Asian aviation services.

Argentina Joins China’s Belt & Road Initiative (Silk Road Briefing) 

China makes serious moves into one of Latin America’s primary economies.

Argentina Moves to Russia After Sealing China BRI Agreement (Russia Briefing) 

We can expect to hear more in the coming months as a result of increasing trade and investment ties between the South American region, China – and Russia.

Putin to Meet Brazilian President Bolsonaro on Wednesday (Russia Briefing) 

And adds Brazil to the new China-Russia axis of influence in South America.

Russia’s Sovcombank Partners with China’s UnionPay (Russia Briefing) 

Partially designed to later avoid use of the global SWIFT network.

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