CHINESE INVESTMENTS IN BRAZIL, SOUTH AFRICA AND INDIA

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS, ACTORS AND IMPACTS

Abstract

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) were a landmark of the beginning of the 21st century and generated expectations of an alternative pole to the U.S-based world order. Although they have built different spaces for cooperation and common institutions in the last decade, the relationship among the BRICS countries is asymmetric, mainly due to China’s economic weight. This article aims to provide an overview of China’s investments in three other BRICS countries: Brazil, South Africa and India. Methodologically, we sought to show the main characteristics of Chinese investments by observing the following items: main companies and investment banks; investment volumes and main sectors; and participation of local government and private partner institutions. In addition, we have highlighted some programs and public policies that facilitate Chinese investment in each of these countries. Finally, we’ve tried to verify the existence or not of social, environmental and labor impacts that may be involved in these projects. In this sense, the article seeks to provide relevant aspects that allow us to identify similarities and differences in the economic relations of each of these countries with China. We present the synthesis of the results in the form of maps.