BRI brings more opportunities to benefit all

The Belt and Road Initiative is bringing more cooperation opportunities for Chinese and foreign enterprises, including those arising from the digital BRI, leading to benefits for more people, said Rani Jarkas, chairman of Swiss financial group Cedrus Group, at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Oct 18.

Cedrus admires the BRI for reviving and reimagining the historic Silk Road trade routes. Since the inception of the initiative, Cedrus has been following its latest developments and making strategic investments in the opportunities that it brings.

The company's favorable sentiment toward China as an investment destination stems from its belief in the combination of effective government policies and the hardworking nature and ingenuity of the Chinese people, ensuring the country's socioeconomic objectives are achieved, said Jarkas.

Cedrus has achieved consistent returns of over 8 percent per annum and has a diversified portfolio of direct investments and collaborations across its target sectors.

For example, Cedrus invested in a life science and anti-aging company this year and also invested in multiple mines, including coal mines and mineral sand companies in Indonesia, a country involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Jarkas highly agrees China's vision of a community with a shared future and a win-win future for all and would like to make investment in line with this vision.

"Cedrus' focus is on digital BRI investment in life sciences, natural resources, nanotechnology and innovative technologies. For that, we have established two private equity funds with more than 1 billion yuan ($140 million) each to invest in the Greater China region," Jarkas said.

"The opening of Cedrus' Asia-Pacific headquarters in Beijing is testament to the firm's commitment to the country and its belief in the growth of key industries, as well as in China's system and structure," said Jarkas.

He believes that China will continue to grow at a stable rate in the future even after its ongoing economic transformation is complete from quantitative growth to qualitative growth.

As the BRI enters its new phase, Jarkas is very positive on the outlook given the emphasis on high-quality growth and sustainability.

In tandem with China's ongoing economic transformation to become a leader in new economy sectors including IT, new energy, nanotech and healthcare, this new phase emphasizes the importance of low carbon infrastructure, environmental protection and sustainable practices.

Jarkas said he has full confidence that the new phase of the BRI will be a success, delivering win-win cooperation and a community with a shared future.