Trans-Eurasian Container Traffic: a Belt and Road Success Story

Vinokurov, Evgeny (2020): Trans-Eurasian Container Traffic: a Belt and Road Success Story. Published in: AFTT Working Paper Series No. WP/2020-03/69

Abstract

Countries in Northern and Central Eurasia, including its largest economies, Russia and Kazakhstan, were among early believers in the value of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the last years, they increasingly embraced various aspects of the BRI, most importantly additional investment and rising volumes of trans-Eurasian traffic. The latter, apart from being a lucrative business on its own, should eventually lead to better internal connectivity between inner-Eurasian regions. In this article I provide data and estimates for the spectacular growth of the volumes of trans-Eurasian container transit. Then I move to explain the underlying reasons and prospects. Finally, there are important remarks on the issue of financing, the role of China, and the role of international financial institutions.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Belt and Road Initiative; Central Asia; transport corridors; Russia; international financial institutions
• Subjects: F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F15 - Economic Integration; F - International Economics > F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business > F21 - International Investment ; Long-Term Capital Movements; F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F34 - International Lending and Debt Problems; R - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics > R4 - Transportation Economics > R41 - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion ; Travel Time ; Safety and Accidents ; Transportation Noise

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