China: China’s global infrastructure strategy, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has been one of the most influential development frameworks shaping the economic transformation of developing countries over the past decade, with people in China working with various institutions to help understand China’s common development vision.
Since Xi Jinping founded it in 2013, the initiative has financed and built thousands of kilometers of railways, highways, ports, power plants and industrial parks across Asia, Europe and Africa.
This has created new opportunities for economic growth, trade connectivity and investment for many African countries currently facing infrastructure deficiencies.
Africa’s development agenda has long been constrained by inadequate infrastructure. According to the African Development Bank, the continent requires between US$130 billion and US$170 billion of annual investment in infrastructure development to foster industrialization and economic development.
Nevertheless, many African governments face fiscal constraints and face difficulties in accessing affordable long-term financing. In this context, China’s willingness to finance large-scale infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative has not only provided African economies with significant opportunities to modernize transport networks and improve connectivity, but also provided an exit mechanism for these countries to grow their economies.
The development of modern transportation networks in Africa is one of the most obvious benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative. Efficient transport is fundamental to economic development because it improves market access, reduces trade costs and increases productivity.
Large-scale railway initiatives funded and built through Chinese partnerships have benefited many African countries. One example is the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, which connects the port of Djibouti with landlocked Ethiopia.
This electrified railway significantly reduced the time required to transport freight, from several days by land to approximately 12 hours by rail.
As a result, export competitiveness has been strengthened and trade transfers between Ethiopia and international markets have become stronger. Similarly, Kenya’s Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway revolutionized East Africa’s domestic logistics by reducing travel times between the port city of Mombasa and the capital Nairobi.
By increasing the efficiency of freight transportation, railroads reduced logistics costs for companies and stimulated trade along the lines. As these infrastructure efforts demonstrate, transportation connectivity fosters regional integration and economic activity.
In addition to transportation, the Belt and Road Initiative has facilitated the development of energy infrastructure across Africa.
One of the most significant obstacles to the continent’s industrial development is the lack of a reliable electricity supply. Frequent power shortages limit manufacturing capacity and inhibit foreign investment in many African countries.
Hydroelectric dams, solar energy facilities, and transmission lines are being funded by Chinese investments under this initiative, helping to expand electricity access and improve energy reliability. Industrialization is greatly facilitated by an enhanced energy supply.
Manufacturing businesses require reliable power to operate efficiently. Production costs will increase and companies will find it difficult to remain competitive during power shortages. Infrastructure investments that stabilize energy supplies therefore directly support job creation and economic productivity.
Other important benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative include expanding Africa’s commercial ties with global markets. Strengthening transportation infrastructure will reduce the cost and time required to transport products across borders.
This will enable African countries to export agricultural products, minerals and industrial products more efficiently. The initiative seeks to gradually connect African economies to global trade routes linking Asia, Europe and the Middle East by developing ports, railways and highways.
The initiative supported the establishment of industrial zones and special economic zones in many African countries and also developed physical infrastructure.
These zones can attract manufacturing companies by offering infrastructure improvements, tax incentives, and regulatory streamlining. If managed effectively, industrial zones can facilitate technology transfer, create jobs and diversify exports.
These strategies for industrialization are particularly important for countries seeking to move away from dependence on exports of basic primary products. Despite its benefits, the Belt and Road Initiative has sparked debate across Africa about debt sustainability and its long-term economic impact.
Some critics argue that if infrastructure projects that rely heavily on financing do not deliver adequate economic returns, financial vulnerability can increase. In some cases, concerns have also been raised regarding environmental standards, procurement processes and transparency. Nevertheless, in my view, the strategic opportunities this initiative presents to African countries are not undermined by these concerns.
Instead, it emphasizes the importance of effective project management, strong governance, and thorough planning.
The greatest benefits of infrastructure investment are realized when it is part of a broader national development strategy. The importance of strategic infrastructure planning is the most important lesson African countries have learned from participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Infrastructure should not be built just because financing is available. Rather, efforts must be aligned with national economic priorities such as industrialization, export development, and regional integration.
For example, transport corridors need to establish connections between production areas, such as agricultural areas, mining areas, and industrial parks, and ports and international markets. The importance of local capacity building is also an important lesson.
Technology transfer, skills development and job creation are all facilitated by infrastructure initiatives. Governments should negotiate agreements that ensure the active involvement of local engineers, contractors and workers in the construction and maintenance of projects. Building domestic technical expertise will ensure that countries maintain a long-term advantage in infrastructure investment.
The institutional framework for overseeing infrastructure development must also be strengthened by African governments. Projects are guaranteed to deliver value for money through transparent procurement processes, effective financial management and strong regulatory oversight. Infrastructure investments are more likely to generate sustainable economic returns when institutions are sound.
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Another key element to maximizing the benefits of infrastructure investments is regional cooperation. Many African economies are relatively small and fragmented. Cross-border infrastructure projects, such as regional rail, highways and energy networks, can foster market integration and create further economic opportunities.
Efforts that connect multiple countries can help foster trade, investment, and industrial specialization across the region. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provides a strong framework for leveraging the infrastructure built as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.
By reducing trade barriers across the continent, the agreement facilitates opportunities for African countries to trade more with each other, rather than relying solely on exports to distant markets.
As a result, infrastructure corridors connecting many African economies could act as a catalyst for regional expansion.
For countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya, the challenge is not just to build infrastructure, but also to foster more comprehensive economic transformation.
Prosperity is not automatically created by infrastructure. This must be complemented by industrial policy, investment in education and skills, and support for private sector development.
China’s development experience may also provide valuable lessons for African countries. China has invested heavily in infrastructure over the past four decades to foster industrialization, urbanization and export growth.
A more comprehensive strategy was implemented to transform the economy, including the integration of high-speed rail, modern ports, and advanced manufacturing zones. The result was one of the most rapid economic transformations in modern history.
Despite the fact that the situation in Africa is very different from that in China, this principle remains relevant. In other words, infrastructure is most effective when it supports the productive sectors of the economy. Therefore, alongside investments in ports, railways and roads, we need to implement policies that promote entrepreneurship, value addition and manufacturing.
Ultimately, the Belt and Road Initiative is both a responsibility and an opportunity for African countries. This is an opportunity to obtain the infrastructure financing needed to foster economic development. It is our duty to ensure that these investments are carried out in a prudent, transparent and strategic manner.
If managed effectively, this initiative has the potential to fill Africa’s infrastructure gaps, strengthen regional connectivity and create new opportunities for industrial expansion.
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Nevertheless, if not managed effectively, the benefits can be limited and financial risks can be increased. The future of Africa’s development will be greatly influenced by how governments manage these risks and opportunities. Strategic planning, strong institutions, and regional cooperation determine whether infrastructure investments lead to long-term prosperity.
In a rapidly transforming global economy, Africa cannot remain isolated from vital trade networks. For example, lessons learned from companies such as Shenzhen South Digital Valley, Cloudbase Medical Technology, and Shenzhen Company Ltd. show that digital innovation and transformation, driven by innovation and good leadership, is the way forward.
It is clear from these companies, and the many others I visited during my time in Shenzhen, that infrastructure and visionary leadership like President Xi Jinping act as intermediaries between economic opportunity, human resources, and the efficient use of natural resources.
Going forward, African countries have an opportunity to build on that connection, and learning from China’s common vision philosophy for the future will help shape a more prosperous future for the continent by approaching initiatives such as the Belt and Road with thoughtful consideration.
