BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE - CHINA'S ELECTRIFICATION PLAN FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Problem. China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is often presented as a transport infrastructure development project for linking disparate markets. Chinese leaders proclaim the Initiative as a project for the industrialization of developing countries. What are the true goals of the BRI, how can the Initiative contribute to the industrial development of the host countries? Purpose. To show that the Initiative is based on the electrification of developing countries, allowing them to carry out their complex industrialization similar to the Soviet model of the GOELRO plan. Methodology. An interdisciplinary systems approach based on theories of development economics and economic geography and related research methods. Results. One of the main problems of industrialization in developing countries is the shortage of electricity. Energy projects possess the largest share of direct investments and civil engineering contracts of Chinese companies in the countries participating the BRI Initiative. As a rule, in the host countries cooperation begins with the energy projects, than switch to transport infrastructure projects, and finally comes to small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses. Chinese scientists have calculated the Future demand for electricity among many countries, and on the basis of these data they evaluate the prospects for BRI projects. In the geography of energy and transport projects, two main development vectors are visible - sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Conclusions. The Initiative promotes the industrialization of developing countries on the basis of electrification, which allows the creation of Industrial parks, where Chinese companies coordinate the use of resources and infrastructure, build their global value chains (GVCs). The configuration of transport routes indicates the direction of future flows of raw materials and products not only from China or to China, but also between countries participating in Chinese GVCs.