Trade Performance via Infrastructure Investment: Evidence from Synergies among the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Purpose – The paper aims to identify synergies between the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the perspective of sustainable infrastructure development. Design/Methodology/Approach – The paper analyzes the long-run empirical relationship between infrastructure investment and trade performance. The study also deals with assessment on the basis of panel OLS, Random Effect, and GMM techniques toward the achievement of the SDGs in the period 2008- 2017. Findings – The paper concluded that infrastructure investment in BRI countries has a positive impact on trade performance, and it promotes trade in Asian countries. It also draws attention to the fact that the joint work of these two global initiatives (BRI and Agenda 2030) could achieve aims in the future. Research Implications – The outcome of this research can be observed as tentative, and further work is more desirable.