English 
Spanish 
3 min read
3 comments
The billion-dollar construction that linked Africa and Asia on a 12 km route, involving 147 countries, generated 19 trillion dollars in goods and transformed global trade.
Have you ever imagined a road so long that it connects entire continents, facilitating trade between countries with completely different cultures? This is the proposal behind the construction of the 'world's longest road', one of the largest constructions ever undertaken by humanity, connecting Africa and Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), led by China. And the impact? More than 15 billion pounds of annual trade.
The ICR is not just a work of engineering. It's an ambitious strategy that redraws the global economic map, promoting market integration and expanding the reach of exports. Let's explore how this construction is transforming trade and the future of several countries.
What is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?
The Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the New Silk Road, was launched by China in 2013. The goal? To create an infrastructure network that connects East Asia to Europe, as well as countries in Africa, Latin America and Oceania.
- Highway has glow-in-the-dark paint instead of light bulbs, but there's a problem: it costs 20 times more
- Affordable housing project revolutionizes construction by being COMPLETED in just 12 days with 3D printing
- North America's Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge: The Construction That Will Transform Trade Between the US and Canada
- Brazil's first underwater tunnel! The project, valued at almost 6 BILLION, will pass through the SEA and reduce the journey from 50 to 2 minutes, but there is a problem: the Ministry and the Government disagree on the launch of the project
The project began with the development of strategic railways, highways and pipelines, creating an efficient trade route between participating countries. With investments of more than $1 trillion, the BRI has become the largest infrastructure initiative ever undertaken, involving some 147 nations.
The initial idea was simple: to create a trade corridor between Asia and Europe. However, the vision quickly expanded to include African and Asian countries along the way. Ports in the Indian Ocean and rail networks in Africa became key pillars of the initiative’s success.
The expansion of construction: Africa and Asia on the same route
Connecting two such different continents is no easy task. But China has proven that it is possible to make this idea a reality.
This road not only transports goods, but also connects cultures and economies. African countries that once depended on local trade now have direct access to Asian markets, expanding your opportunities export.
Modernized ports, state-of-the-art highways and rail networks are just some of the constructions that are part of the project. These investments increase transportation capacity, reduce logistics costs and boost trade on a global scale.
Economic and geopolitical benefits for China and the world
The numbers are impressive. In just a decade, some $19,1 trillion worth of goods were traded between China and BRI countries.
The 'world's longest road' has made trade faster and more efficient. Products that once took weeks to reach their destination are now delivered in just a few days, benefiting both exporters and consumers.
In addition to strengthening trade ties, the construction paved the way for China to secure access to resources such as oil, gas and minerals in strategic regions, solidifying its position as a global power.
The challenges behind a construction of epic proportions
Deforestation, community displacement and environmental degradation are among the main problems associated with the project. These impacts raise debates about the sustainability of the initiative.
While many countries have benefited, others are struggling to repay loans granted by China, raising concerns about economic dependence and national sovereignty.
The 'longest road in the world' is a symbol of global integration and economic transformationBy connecting Africa and Asia, the initiative creates new possibilities for trade, culture and development.
This report is super interesting. I consider myself a well-informed person and I had never seen anything about this pharaonic work. China surprises the world once again.
It is China taking the initiative to facilitate the flow of its industrialized products and the receipt of raw materials for its production or internal consumption.
The Chinese are always surprising us with their innovations!
Only the Brazilian far right would be against China, even Bolsonaro when he was there, said he was in a capitalist country!