Belt And Road Weekly Investor Intelligence #116              

Tuesday, January 17, 2023            

Compiled by Chris Devonshire-Ellis        

There’s activity worldwide along the Belt & Road Initiative as China takes admin steps to make import-export easier and cements its connections in Central Asia. Turkiye has announced record Central Asian trade, while Kyrgyzstan’s trade with the Eurasian Economic Union grew by 32% in 2022. We have a complimentary ‘Doing Business In Vietnam’ 2023 Guide for you, while we also examine the potential for China-India bilateral trade. Over ¾ of foreign businesses did not exit Russia in 2022; we discuss why, and what the future holds for the Russian consumer market, while a new Latin American / Caribbean trade bloc has been proposed.

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CHINA        

China Cancels Foreign Trade Operator Registration, Simplifying Import and Export Procedures 

China has amended the Foreign Trade Law to simplify registration procedures for foreign trade operators. From now on, companies and individuals no longer need to undergo registration and filing with local commerce authorities and will automatically obtain the right to import and export products to and from China. We explain the latest changes, what requirements are still in place for foreign trade operators, and how this may affect China’s foreign trade.

China Has Sealed BRI Agreements With All Central Asian Countries While The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor Is A Success: China Ministry of Foreign Affairs  

Central Asia stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It is generally considered to include five countries, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with an approximate size of Western Europe and a population of 50 million people.

ASEAN   

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2023  

The latest guide from Dezan Shira & Associates, titled “An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam in 2023”, is out now and currently available to subscribers as a complimentary download in the Asia Briefing Publication Store.

CENTRAL ASIA        

Kyrgyzstan – Eurasian Economic Union Trade Up 36.2% In 2022 

Kyrgyzstan is the 2023 Chair of the Commonwealth of Independent States and has been actively attracting Russian and Chinese investment by offering tax incentives and long-term resident visas.

Foreigners Can Obtain 10-year Kyrgyz Investment Visas For US$230,000 

The visa program is primarily aimed at Russian nationals looking for new pastures should their business or quality of life be perceived to have been altered by the Ukraine conflict. However, the offer may also be attractive to Chinese and other Central Asian investors wanting travel and residential security when considering business investments.

INDIA  

India-China in 2023: Bilateral Trade and Investment Prospects 

China has continued to remain one of India’s leading trade partners in recent years, with the balance of trade heavily skewed in favor of China. In 2022, the trade imbalance breached the US$100 billion mark for the first time, as per the latest data released by Chinese customs.  This exponential rise in trade is on account of an increase in the import of electronic goods, organic and inorganic chemicals, medicinal and pharmaceutical products, fertilizers, etc. from China. Moreover, investment flows from China to India have dampened over the last two years following India’s revised FDI policy in response to border skirmishes. In this article, we outline the latest trade and investment trends between the two Asian neighbors.

MIDDLE EAST        

Turkiye’s 2022 Central Asian Trade Reaches Over US$12 Billion 

Türkiye’s foreign trade turnover with Central Asian countries reached US$11.3 billion from January through November 2022, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute. This implies an overall 2022 Turkiye-Central Asian trade turnover of about US$12.33 billion. According to this data, Kazakhstan became Türkiye’s main trading partner among Central Asian countries in 11 months of 2022.

RUSSIA      

76% Of Foreign Investors In Russia Did Not Exit The Russian Consumer Market In 2022. We Identify The 2023 Opportunities And Evolutionary Tactics Required For Those Who Stayed Or Wish To Enter. 

LATIN AMERICA  

Venezuela Proposes New Regional LatAm / Caribbean Economic Bloc Tied To China And Russia 

A bloc aligned with China and Russia – both of whom are active in the LatAm and Caribbean region, is perceived by Venezuela at least as being beneficial. Both have relatively stable economies – despite sanctions – and have been prepared to trade in non-US dollar currencies; even agreeing to currency swaps to help pressurized currencies ride out the current economic winds. China’s provision of a US$7.2 billion currency swap with Argentina earlier this month is an example.