Moldova is set to benefit from Belt road initiative with two major roads (300km) at an estimated cost of $400m built by major chinese firms. One road will encircle capital Chisinau and the other will connect Ukraine in the north. Moldova to benefit from two major roads increased trade, bringing economic growth and large scale foreign investment inflows through the BRI.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the biggest and most ambitious 21st century silk road connecting Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime networks along six corridors with the aim of improving regional integration, increasing trade and stimulating economic growth covering over 70 countries, accounting for about 65 per cent of the world’s population and around one-third of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The name was coined in 2013 by China’s President Xi Jinping, who drew inspiration from the concept of the Silk Road established during the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago – an ancient network of trade routes that connected China to the Mediterranean via Eurasia for centuries. The BRI has also been referred to in the past as ‘One Belt One Road’.
The BRI comprises a Silk Road Economic Belt – a trans-continental passage that links China with south east Asia, south Asia, Central Asia, Russia and Europe by land – and a 21st century Maritime Silk Road, a sea route connecting China’s coastal regions with south east and south Asia, the South Pacific, the Middle East and Eastern Africa, all the way to Europe. BRI is expected to involve over US$1 trillion in investments, largely in infrastructure development for ports, roads, railways and airports, as well as power plants and telecommunications networks. China has signed co-operational document on the belt and road initiative with 126 countries and 29 international organisations
Moldova is expected to be a major trade hub in the region with two major belt roads passing through the country carrying millions of dollars worth of supplies, logistics, oil through Moldova. With significant growth in Moldova on the horizon, citizenship in the country also becomes valuable. Real estate and construction also expected to gain significant growth from BRI.
Moldova currently offers fast track citizenship for investment program suitable for investors, requiring one time contribution of EUR 100,000 to government fund, EUR 250,000 investment in real estate or government debt (treasury bonds). All qualifying family members and investors qualify for passport and citizenship can be passed through future generations without interruptions through investment scheme.
Italy, Greece also set to benefit from the BRI initiative.
As of 26 March 2019, Moldovan citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to121 countries and territories, ranking the Moldovan passport 45th in terms of travel freedom (tied with the Micronesian passport) according to the Henley PassportIndex
