To date, China’s outbound Belt and Road Initiative projects have mainly been massive long-term infrastructure investments but as Belt and Road gains momentum, other deals are beginning to mark a new phase in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) investment.
As statistics compiled by Thomson Reuters, which forms the basis of our regular inforgraphic data story this month, the investment focus is already changing.
China’s Belt and Road investors are actively exploring opportunities in the region’s metals and mineral resources, in geothermal energy production and power delivery systems and are looking at manufacturing opportunities in Asean, from value-adding raw agricultural materials to petroleum products and semiconductors.
Reflecting growing consumer demand in Asean countries, China’s corporates are locking in deals which provide key services such as banking and financial professionals, telecommunication, e-commerce and retail to meet demand. While interest is across the board, the Philippines and Singapore are significant beneficiaries of this new direction.
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