Ideas & Debate Opportunities and risks in China’s silk road for AfricaChinese workers lay the standard gauge railway at Suswa on the Nairobi-Naivash section of the BRI project. Closer to home, Kenya’s standard gauge railway is a key BRI project in Africa and exemplifies the opportunities and risks linked to the BRI roll-out in Africa. The second opportunity for Africa is further opening the continent up to the Chinese private sector and foreign direct investment (FDI). Chinese FDIThe second risk has to do with the quality of Chinese FDI and private sector engagement in Africa. If the BRI opens Africa up more deeply to Chinese private sector engagement, it is crucial that concerns with Chinese private sector activity with regard to ESG standards are addressed.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 31, 2019 18:03 UTC