Chinese infrastructure projects in Africa under the Belt and Road initiative have seen the Asian superpower invest billions of pounds into constructing transport links across the continent.
The purposes of the project are many, but one chief benefit China hopes to reap is increased interdependence between its economy and others around the world. Plus, Belt and Road acts as a means of extending China’s soft power, thereby furthering its global influence.
But many would be surprised to learn that Chinese infrastructure projects have not been limited to Africa. In fact, China’s already built a stretch of major highway in Europe.
The Rikoti Pass in Georgia – a small country to the south of Russia – connects mainland Europe to Asia and as such is to be a vital economic artery.
China’s involvement in the construction of a section of the road was to build a 32-mile stretch, with an astonishing 96 bridges and 53 tunnels.
However, it did not come cheap at nearly $1bn (£786mn). Four different Chinese companies were tasked with making the road a reality, with each taking a different section.
The project was financed by loans from the Asian Investment Bank and the European Investment Bank and although the economic benefits are certain to be plenty as the motorway becomes part of the landscape, there are inevitably going to be losers.
In the small village of Shrosha, Zoya Giorgadze sells her homemade ceramics. But with the new motorway, drivers are now bypassing her stall and so she no longer has any customers.
“This new highway is overall a positive thing for the country,” she told RFE/RL, “but little thought has been given to the impact on people like me who will be lost amid this giant project.”
Further away, Irma Nozadze, who runs a cafe near Rikoti Pass, is equally concerned that the new road with take her customers away.
“Things are already very hard for us here,” she said. “I can only imagine what things will be like when reduced traffic is passing through here.”
