Making the Most of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Africa

Abstract

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) offers significant opportunities for Africa, particularly in the area of trade, investment, and infrastructure connectivity. However, limited attention has been given to how Africa is positioned to benefit from the BRI and what it might mean for China-Africa relations. This paper examines how to make the most of the BRI in Africa and explores the possible implications of the BRI for Africa, the potential benefits for the continent and the expectations of Africans from the Initiative. The paper draws from a study conducted by ACBF on how Africa can benefit from the BRI. The findings suggest that the BRI has the potential to significantly improve trade, investment, infrastructure and living standards in Africa. However, for a mutually beneficial partnership, African countries are expecting that projects and programs under the BRI should support Africa’s continental development priorities, particularly African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to facilitate regional and global trade necessary for the development of private enterprise and significant job creation to address youth unemployment. The paper concludes that Africa’s continental priorities cannot be achieved without capacity building including critical technical skills and developing productive capacities to maximize the benefits of BRI so that African firms are strategically positioned in the international value chains of Chinese firms for a win–win cooperation.