#13 Linda Calabrese – China's BRI 10 Years Anniversary and Africa - Market Trends and Outlook

OUT OF CONSENSUS

1. The China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) began in 2013 and expanded to include African countries around 2018-2019.
2. Chinese investment in Africa has plateaued in the past five years, with a slowdown in lending from Chinese policy banks.
3. Chinese investment in Africa is more diversified than other countries, focusing on natural resources, construction, industrialization, manufacturing, and agriculture.
4. The energy sector, particularly renewable energy, is a significant area of interest for Chinese companies in Africa.
5. China is the fifth-largest investor in Africa, behind the UK, France, Netherlands, and the US.
6. Chinese companies have played a significant role in building ICT infrastructure in Africa.
7. The infrastructure financing gap in Africa is estimated to be between $70 and $100 billion per year.
8. The African Continental Free Trade Area aims to eliminate domestic barriers to trade and boost African economies, but infrastructure remains a challenge.
9. Chinese investment in Africa is expected to continue growing, albeit at a slower pace, due to changing economic conditions in China.
10. Upcoming events to watch include the 2023 Belt and Road Forum and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2023, which will provide insights into the future direction of Chinese investment in Africa.

Linda is Research Fellow in the International Development Programme at ODI. A development economist by training, her research interests include industrialisation and economic transformation, private sector development and investment, and industrial policy; and Global China, including China’s economic footprint in low- and middle-income countries, its role in global development and the Belt and Road Initiative. A fluent Mandarin speaker, she is also interested in China-Africa issues. Linda has experience in ‘research into policy’, having worked both in government and with governments and advising them on how to use research findings to inform policy. Before joining ODI, she worked as a consultant on economic policy and strategy, as a Rwanda Country Economist for the International Growth Centre, and as an economist for the Ministry of East African Community Affairs in Uganda. Prior to moving to London, Linda spent four years in East Africa (Uganda and Rwanda) working with government and research organisations. At ODI, she has conducted extensive primary data collection in East Africa, Southeast Asia and Central Asia. Linda has published several journal articles, book chapters and reports, and is a frequent commentator in the media. She received her MSc Development Economics from Sapienza University of Rome and SOAS University of London, and is currently a Leverhulme Doctoral Fellow at the Lau China Institute, King’s College London.

EPISODE LINKS:

Linda's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindacalabrese/

Linda's Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindacalab

OUTLINE:

0:01:32 - Unraveling the Evolution: China's Belt and Road Initiative in Africa - A Decade of Transformation and Diversification

0:03:54 - Unlocking Africa's Potential: How China's Diversified Investments Are Transforming the Continent

0:05:10 - Powering Africa's Future: How Chinese Innovations in Renewable Energy are Transforming the Continent

0:06:30 - China's Surprising Role in Africa's Growth: Uncovering the True Impact of Chinese Investments

0:11:29 - Closing the $100 Billion Gap: Revolutionizing Africa's Infrastructure and Trade with China's Help

0:15:21 - Unlocking Africa's Potential: The Future of Foreign Investment and China's Changing Role

0:17:26 - China's African Strategy: Business-Based Approach or Political Power Play?

0:18:57 - Unveiling the Future of China's Belt and Road: Climate, Social Impact, and Africa's Role - 2023 Forum Insights!

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