Addressing opportunities for the DF&TR industry connected with China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI), ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Director Patti Chau tells TRBusiness that the scheme will bring about astounding growth in infrastructure and people exchange with airports being a critical component.

“In this day and age of connections, we will all be affected by this major development,” she told TRBusiness recently.

“In 2018, according to the CAA (Civil Aviation Administration) of China, over 100 new international routes were developed in relation to the Belt and Road Initiative.

“The overall sea/land/air connectivity along the BRI countries will be greatly enhanced to provide many new transport and business opportunities between the West and the East.”

OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND

Riding on China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative to connect countries together for mutual cooperation, ACI Asia-Pacific believes there are plenty of opportunities worth exploring in Central Asia.

“Benefitting from its strategic geographic location, airports in Kazakhstan and its neighbours are well-positioned to develop themselves as the Eurasian hubs for the forecasted thriving growth in transcontinental traffic,” she continued.

In addition to the multi-billion dollar BRI, Chau says that the recent Qatar-EU aviation agreement to increase mobility, tourism and trade exchange is a ‘great example of a state finding its footing in the whirlwind of a complex global economy’.

“This agreement will translate to the development of new air services, providing more choices for consumers and supporting the economy,” Chau added..

Find the full-length interview with Patti Chau in the May edition of TRBusiness. Click here to subscribe.