Belt And Road Initiative Is An Opportunity For Developing Countries

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) welcomes all to explore opportunities for shared growth and provides developing countries with the most critical investment to fill economic gaps. 

While addressing the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2023 in China on Monday, Ahsan Iqbal, the Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative, said, “The real beauty of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the spirit of sharing, China shares its success with developing countries.”  

He said that BRI welcomes all to explore opportunities for shared growth and provides developing countries with the most critical investment to fill economic gaps. He added, “For example, when Pakistan was only able to provide electricity to for 16-18 hours a day, China-under the BRI- allowed its companies to invest in the energy sector when no other foreign investors were coming.”  

He said that China had shared its own successful development concepts, models, roads and plans, providing a cooperation platform for developing countries and helping promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Ahsan Iqbal said that the world is moving towards digitalization, and if the option of digitalization does not opt, the gap between developed and developing countries will widen. He admitted that the involvement of High-Tech and communication companies in BRI had boosted Pakistan’s digital development.  

He said, “Among 100 people, 94 people can connect physically, but only 54 can connect to the internet.” He hopefully said that the BRI would help Pakistan introduce more high-tech and communication companies, providing more people with the possibility to gain digital connectivity. 

The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference will be held from March 28-31? in Boao, Hainan. The conference theme is “An Uncertain World: Solidarity and cooperation for Development amid Challenges.” ?Pakistan is facing several economic challenges; the BRI may easily remove the country from the crisis. The government may speed up work which seems to be at the desirable pace. ?