As more than 90 countries prepare to attend China’s third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023, the September 2023 edition of BRI Monitor focuses on the return on investment (ROI) of BRI projects in Malaysia, which are often too low because of China’s processes. BRI funding offers countries infrastructure without the screening and compliance requirements developed countries use to ensure public funds are spent effectively. Chinese insistence on opaque contracts and noncompetitive tendering and procurement practices creates multiple problems. Case studies in this policy brief include a project emblematic of how secrecy clauses in BRI loan details allow corrupt officials to inflate costs and misuse funds.
By reviewing lessons learned from BRI projects, investors, developers, managers, and governing bodies can ensure greater rigor, feasibility, profitability, and transparency – the building blocks for constructive, rather than corrosive, capital.
