Belt and Road Initiative and Myanmar: Challenges for Responsible Investment 1

Grand Chinese infrastructure projects are the key to Myanmar’s plan to bridge the major gaps in the transportation and energy infrastructure essential for its economic development. However, the design and execution of Chinese infrastructure projects have been criticized over their unclear benefits for Myanmar, high project costs, and disruptive impacts on local ecology and culture. This chapter reviews the mixed local receptions to Chinese investment, drawing on fieldwork in Myanmar, and suggests the potential for leveraging Hong Kong’s managerial and professional experience in enhancing responsible investment in the Belt and Road Initiative.