China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is unlikely to have any positive impact on or benefits for South Africa according to Africa House director, Duncan Bonnett.
This opinion was echoed by the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) who noted that it was highly likely that the country’s ports would be completely bypassed once the BRI was completed.
The BRI, often described as the 21st century “silk road”, is a trade and development strategy – proposed by the Chinese government and spearheaded by president Xi Jinping – that comprises overland corridors and maritime shipping lanes connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. It spans some 65 countries, representing 60% of the global population, about a third of the world’s GDP, and completely excludes South Africa as a sea freight route option.
“If you look at the ports targeted by the BRI, such as Dar es Salaam and Djibouti, you can see that the Chinese are looking to improve transport infrastructure in the entire eastern seaboard and adjoining hinterlands,” said Bonnett. “This will definitely have some negative impact on our ports.”
The JCCI pointed out that ongoing problems faced in South Africa’s ports, along with the increased availability of other options as a result of the BRI, would increase the likelihood of shipping lines bypassing our ports.
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