Analyzing the Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the South Caucasus

At the beginning of August, PMC Research started working on a Country Note on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan) in order to study its impact on Central Asia and the South Caucasus (CASC).

The main goal of the project is to ascertain how best to maximize the BRI’s benefits for countries both individually and through regional cooperative efforts, and to manage its potential risks.

During the project, which is being carried out under the Emerging Markets Forum project, PMC Research will analyze the main areas of BRI engagement and their potential impact on the CASC region in trade, employment and migration, urban/rural and intra-country regional (im) balances, macroeconomic balances and debts, and other areas.

More specifically, the study will examine: the integration of BRI investments with national plans of governments and regional plans of organizations; regional organizations’ involvement in planning, implementing and monitoring BRI programs; how international organizations will ensure maximum benefits with minimum cost/risk from the BRI.

Ultimately, PMC Research will present recommendations for China, for the CASC countries’ governments, private sector and CSOs, and the international community to help the CASC countries get the most out of the BRI.