Move over, Silk Road 2.0 – Central Asia’s role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is hotter than ever. 🌟 In an exclusive interview with Djoomart Otorbaev, former prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, we explore how this ambitious infrastructure project transformed landlocked nations into global trade players.
💡 BRI’s Big Wins: Since its launch a decade ago, Central Asia has seen highways, railways, and energy pipelines crisscrossing the region like never before. Otorbaev highlights how these projects boosted cross-border trade by over 40% and connected markets from Europe to Asia-Pacific. 💼
🚂 Unlocking Potential: \"Landlocked doesn’t mean *locked out*,\" Otorbaev says, pointing to Kazakhstan’s dry ports and Uzbekistan’s logistics hubs. BRI investments helped reduce transport costs and lifted local manufacturing – a game-changer for young entrepreneurs.
🌐 Global Power Play: With superpowers eyeing Central Asia’s strategic location, Otorbaev calls the region \"the world’s geopolitical gym.\" But he stresses collaboration over competition: \"When major powers lift together, everyone gains.\" 🏋️♂️
