$1 trillion 'project of the century' faces uncertain future

18 Oct 2023 CW Team

When President Xi Jinping introduced his vision for expanding Chinese soft power through an extensive network of infrastructure investments in 2017, he proudly touted the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the "project of the century." However, as the Chinese leader convenes the third Belt and Road Forum this week, the future of this ambitious undertaking appears to be clouded with uncertainty.

While the BRI has managed to attract an estimated $1 trillion in funding during its first decade, as reported by the Green Finance & Development Center, the momentum behind the project has significantly waned in recent years. China's overall engagement with BRI countries has seen a notable 40% decline from its peak in 2018, reflecting the economic slowdown of the world's second-largest economy.

Moreover, Beijing has been contending with allegations of irresponsible lending practices that have driven some countries to the brink of default. To complicate matters further, strained relations with the United States have rendered affiliations with President Xi's flagship project increasingly divisive. Italy, the sole Group of Seven member participating in the BRI, is poised to exit this partnership by the end of the year.

As the Belt and Road Initiative faces these headwinds, the international community closely watches its future trajectory and its potential impact on global infrastructure development and economic relations. The shifting landscape raises questions about the project's resilience and adaptability in the face of emerging challenges.

Infrastructure Transport

01 Jun 2026

MMRDA advances 250 m on Orange Gate–Marine Drive tunnel

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has completed 250 m of underground tunnelling for the Orange Gate–Marine Drive Urban Road Tunnel using India’s largest slurry shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) deployed for an urban road project.The project involves twin tunnels extending over 7 km beneath critical transport corridors, including Central Railway, Western Railway and Metro Line 3. The work requires high-precision engineering to navigate densely developed urban infrastructure.Once completed, the tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between Orange Gate and Marin..

Hindustan Zinc Pays Rs 188.46 Billion in FY26

Hindustan Zinc contributed Rs 188.46 billion to the public exchequer in FY 2025-26, according to its 9th Tax Transparency Report. The contribution, equivalent to 46 per cent of the company’s revenue, included direct and indirect taxes, government royalties, dividends to the Government of India, withholding taxes and other statutory levies.The company’s five-year cumulative contribution to the exchequer stood at Rs 915.72 billion. In FY26, Hindustan Zinc reported revenue of Rs 408.44 billion, EBITDA of Rs 221.62 billion and profit after tax of Rs 138.32 billion. It also achieved its highest..

World of Concrete India 2026 Opens in Mumbai

Informa Markets in India will host the 12th edition of World of Concrete India 2026 from 3–5 June 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The specialised B2B exhibition will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, developers, architects, consultants, infrastructure companies, project leaders and government stakeholders.The event is expected to feature over 350 brands and more than 18,000 trade professionals. It will cover concrete and cement, dry mortar, precast technologies, formwork, construction chemicals, industrial and commercial flooring, scaffolding, safety solutio..