Environmentally Aware

Why criticism of the Belt and Road projects in Africa on environmental degradation is unfounded

The writer is an economist, consultant and regional commentator on trade and investment in Kenya eficiaries of China’s development. In fact, the initiative is advancing steadily guided by the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, aimed at promoting the connectivity of policies, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-topeople exchanges.

It’s because of the initiative’s projects that Africa has witnessed steady growth in infrastructure, recording key milestones in the construction of gas and oil pipelines, shipping lanes, standard gauge railways, roads (in both rural and urban areas of Africa), ports, and economic corridors, among others. With this infrastructural growth, the continent is now at the “takeoff” stage in line with American economist Walt Whitman Rostow’s postulation of the five basic economic growth stages.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has played a key role in promoting sustainable development on the continent. Through Xi’s development policy actions toward Africa, he has been able to successfully host African leaders on the Belt and Road Initiative, the Forum on China-africa Cooperation, and the China International Import Expo (CIIE) which aims at opening the Chinese market to imports from foreign countries. The CIIE’S net effect is to increase Africa’s exports to China to ameliorate the trade imbalance that is skewed in favor of Chinese imports over African exports.

Concerns addressed

With China playing an increasingly key role in the world economy, the initiative has unparalleled potential that will bring about positive