Investment Update: Anhui BRI Corridor Investment Projects Open for Foreign Bidding
Table of Contents
- Overview: Anhui’s Belt and Road Opportunity
- The 23 Projects: Scope and Sector Distribution
- Logistics Infrastructure: The Hefei International Land-Sea Port
- Industrial Parks: Cross-Border Cooperation Zones
- Energy and Digital Infrastructure Projects
- Bidding Process and Foreign Participation Rules
- Strategic Importance for Regional Trade Connectivity
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Overview: Anhui’s Belt and Road Opportunity
In a significant expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at the provincial level, Anhui Province has announced the opening of 23 major infrastructure and industrial projects for international bidding, with a combined estimated value of ¥46 billion (approximately US$6.4 billion). The projects, formally unveiled at the Anhui BRI Investment Forum held in Hefei in October 2025, represent the province’s most ambitious international infrastructure offering to date and mark a strategic pivot toward deepening Anhui’s integration with the BRI’s economic corridors spanning Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
The project portfolio was developed under the framework of Anhui’s “BRI Connectivity Enhancement Plan 2025–2030,” which was approved by the Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission in June 2025 with strong endorsement from the National Development and Reform Commission’s Belt and Road Office. The plan identifies Anhui’s strategic position at the intersection of two major BRI economic corridors — the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor (via the Hefei-Xinjiang-Europe railway link) and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (connecting western China to Southeast Asian markets via rail and sea) — and outlines a comprehensive investment program to upgrade logistics, energy, digital, and industrial infrastructure to support increased trade flows through Anhui’s territory.
2. The 23 Projects: Scope and Sector Distribution
The 23 projects span five infrastructure categories, each designed to address a specific bottleneck or opportunity in Anhui’s BRI connectivity infrastructure. The sectoral distribution reflects the province’s comprehensive approach to corridor development, recognizing that effective international connectivity requires not only transport infrastructure but also supporting logistics, energy, digital, and industrial capacity.
| Project Category | Number of Projects | Total Value (¥) | Bidding Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logistics Infrastructure | 7 | 18.2 billion | PPP / EPC |
| Industrial Parks & Cooperation Zones | 5 | 10.5 billion | Joint Venture / PPP |
| Energy Infrastructure | 4 | 8.8 billion | EPC / BOT |
| Digital Infrastructure | 4 | 5.6 billion | EPC / PPP |
| Cross-Border Trade Facilitation | 3 | 2.9 billion | PPP / Concession |
| Total | 23 | 46.0 billion |
The largest category — logistics infrastructure — accounts for 40 percent of total project value and includes seven major initiatives: the Hefei International Land-Sea Port expansion (the single largest project at ¥6.8 billion), the Wuhu Yangtze River Deepwater Terminal modernization (¥3.2 billion), the Bengbu multimodal logistics center (¥2.8 billion), the Ma’anshan bulk cargo river-rail transshipment hub (¥2.1 billion), the Anqing cross-border e-commerce logistics park (¥1.6 billion), the Bozhou cold-chain logistics terminal for agricultural exports (¥1.0 billion), and the Chuzhou smart warehousing and distribution center (¥0.7 billion). Together, these projects are designed to create an integrated logistics network that can handle the province’s projected growth in international trade volumes, which the Anhui Provincial Department of Commerce forecasts will increase from US$98 billion in 2025 to US$145 billion by 2030.
Industrial park projects (¥10.5 billion) include three China-Central Asia industrial cooperation zones in Hefei, Wuhu, and Chuzhou — designed as dedicated manufacturing and logistics platforms for companies from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan — and two China-Europe advanced manufacturing parks in Hefei and Xuancheng, targeting European SMEs in the automotive parts, machinery, and green technology sectors. The energy and digital infrastructure categories address the growing demand for reliable power supply (including a 500 MW solar-plus-storage facility specifically designated to power the Hefei Land-Sea Port and logistics corridor) and cross-border data connectivity (including an international data center and cross-border e-commerce platform integration system).
3. Logistics Infrastructure: The Hefei International Land-Sea Port
The Hefei International Land-Sea Port project is the anchor investment of Anhui’s BRI corridor development program and is designed to become the most comprehensive inland multimodal cargo handling facility in central China. The project, with an estimated investment of ¥6.8 billion, involves the expansion and modernization of the existing Hefei Railway Container Center into a fully integrated land-sea port capable of handling 1.2 million TEUs annually by 2030 — up from the current capacity of 480,000 TEUs per year.
The expansion plan encompasses four major components. First, the rail yard expansion will add eight new gantry crane-equipped loading tracks, increasing the facility’s rail car processing capacity from 1,200 to 3,000 rail cars per day and enabling the simultaneous handling of four full China-Europe Railway Express train sets. Second, the container storage yard will be expanded from its current 80,000 square meters to 220,000 square meters, with the addition of a 40,000-square-meter refrigerated container yard for cold-chain cargo — a critical infrastructure gap identified by Anhui’s agricultural exporters, who currently rely on road transport to coastal reefer facilities for temperature-sensitive exports. Third, a 120,000-square-meter bonded logistics center (B-type) will be constructed, providing duty-free storage, consolidation, and value-added logistics services for international cargo in transit through the Anhui corridor. Fourth, a 15,000-square-meter customs inspection and quarantine facility will be equipped with advanced non-intrusive inspection technology (including X-ray scanning systems for containerized cargo) to expedite cross-border clearance procedures, targeting a customs clearance time of under 4 hours for goods moving through the facility.
The project is structured as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with a 30-year concession period, with the Anhui Provincial Port and Shipping Group holding a 40 percent stake and the remaining 60 percent open to international bidding. The bidding documentation, published in both Chinese and English on the Anhui BRI Project Portal (bri.anhui.gov.cn), specifies that bids must be submitted by consortia that include at least one international logistics operator with demonstrated experience in operating multi-modal container terminals — a requirement designed to bring global best practices in terminal management to the project. The concessionaire will be responsible for financing, constructing, and operating the expanded facility, with revenue generated through terminal handling charges, storage fees, and value-added logistics services. The Anhui Provincial Government has provided a minimum traffic guarantee of 800,000 TEUs annually by the fifth year of operation, with revenue shortfall compensation if actual throughput falls below the guarantee.
4. Industrial Parks: Cross-Border Cooperation Zones
The five industrial park projects in the BRI portfolio represent a new model of cross-border industrial cooperation, designed to create dedicated manufacturing and logistics platforms that facilitate trade and investment flows between Anhui and BRI partner countries. Unlike traditional industrial parks that merely provide space for foreign companies to operate, these cooperation zones are structured as bilateral platforms with dedicated support services for investors from specific partner countries, including language assistance, legal and regulatory guidance, and market access facilitation.
The three China-Central Asia Industrial Cooperation Zones — located in Hefei (focused on agricultural processing and textile manufacturing), Wuhu (focused on automotive parts assembly and machinery), and Chuzhou (focused on building materials and chemicals) — are designed to attract companies from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan seeking to establish manufacturing or distribution operations in China. Each zone will offer: dedicated sections of manufacturing space with standardized factory buildings (2,000–10,000 square meters per unit); shared logistics facilities including bonded warehousing and customs clearance services; a one-stop administrative service center staffed with Russian and Uzbek language interpreters; and dedicated dormitory and canteen facilities for Central Asian workers. The zones are structured as joint ventures between Anhui provincial state-owned enterprises (holding 51 percent) and private-sector partners selected through the bidding process (holding 49 percent).
The two China-Europe Advanced Manufacturing Parks — located in Hefei’s High-Tech Zone and in Xuancheng’s Economic Development Zone — are specifically designed for European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the automotive parts, precision machinery, green technology, and medical devices sectors. The parks will provide: ready-built factory and laboratory spaces compliant with EU construction and environmental standards; a simplified regulatory framework including expedited product certification and testing (with mutual recognition agreements under negotiation with the German TÜV Rheinland and the French Bureau Veritas for in-park testing and certification); and a dedicated European Business Support Office staffed with German, French, and English speakers. The Hefei park has already secured expressions of interest from 14 European SMEs, including 6 from Germany, 4 from France, 2 from Italy, and 2 from the Netherlands, according to the Anhui Provincial Department of Commerce.
5. Energy and Digital Infrastructure Projects
The energy infrastructure component of the BRI portfolio includes four projects designed to ensure that Anhui’s growing logistics and industrial capacity is supported by reliable, sustainable energy supply. The flagship project is a 500 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with an integrated 200 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), to be constructed on 600 hectares of land in the Bengbu-Lu’an solar belt — one of central China’s best-insolated regions. The plant is specifically designed to power the Hefei International Land-Sea Port, the Hefei-Wuhu industrial corridor, and the China-Europe Advanced Manufacturing Parks, with a dedicated high-voltage transmission line connecting the plant directly to these facilities. The estimated investment is ¥2.8 billion, structured as a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project with a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Anhui State Grid Corporation at a fixed tariff of ¥0.42 per kWh, indexed to CPI inflation.
The other three energy projects include: a 180 MW expansion of the pumped-storage hydroelectric facility in Jinzhai County (¥3.2 billion, EPC contract), designed to provide grid stability and peak-shaving capacity for the province’s growing industrial load; a 200 km natural gas pipeline connecting the Hefei logistics corridor to the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline network (¥1.8 billion, EPC contract with the possibility of an operation and maintenance contract for the successful bidder); and a distributed rooftop solar program for industrial parks and logistics facilities (¥1.0 billion, EPC contract with 10-year O&M included). Foreign companies with demonstrated experience in large-scale renewable energy project construction and operation are particularly encouraged to bid for the solar-plus-storage and pumped-storage projects, where the Anhui Provincial Energy Bureau has indicated a preference for international technology partners with experience in projects of comparable scale outside China.
The digital infrastructure category addresses the growing importance of data connectivity for cross-border trade and industrial cooperation. The four projects include: an international data center in Hefei’s High-Tech Zone (¥2.4 billion, PPP), designed to provide cloud computing and data storage services for companies operating in the BRI corridor; a cross-border e-commerce platform integration system (¥1.2 billion, EPC), creating a single digital gateway for customs clearance, logistics tracking, and trade financing for goods moving through the Anhui corridor; a smart port management system for the Hefei Land-Sea Port (¥1.0 billion, EPC), incorporating AI-driven container yard optimization, automated gate systems, and real-time rail and vessel scheduling; and a blockchain-based trade documentation platform (¥1.0 billion, PPP), designed to digitize and streamline the letters of credit, bills of lading, and certificates of origin that currently require paper-based processing for cross-border trade transactions.
6. Bidding Process and Foreign Participation Rules
The bidding framework for the 23 BRI corridor projects has been designed to maximize international participation while ensuring compliance with Chinese procurement regulations and national security requirements. The Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission, acting as the central coordinating authority for the project portfolio, has published comprehensive bidding guidelines in Chinese and English on the Anhui BRI Project Portal (bri.anhui.gov.cn), and has established a dedicated BRI Project Bidding Office in Hefei to provide bidder support services including document clarification, site visit coordination, and matchmaking with potential Chinese partners.
| Project Type | Bidding Format | Foreign Participation Limit | Bid Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPP / Concession Projects | International competitive bidding (ICB) | Up to 70% equity in consortium | Q1–Q2 2026 |
| EPC Projects | International competitive bidding (ICB) | 100% foreign ownership allowed | Q1–Q3 2026 |
| BOT Projects | Two-stage ICB (prequalification + final bid) | Up to 60% equity in SPV | Q2 2026 (prequal) |
| Joint Venture Projects | Limited international bidding | Up to 49% equity | Q2 2026 |
Key participation rules include the following. Foreign companies may bid individually or as part of consortia; for PPP and BOT projects, consortia must include at least one Chinese partner with relevant local experience. Foreign bid evaluation criteria are standardized at 40 percent technical score (project approach, technical capability, key personnel qualifications) and 60 percent commercial score (bid price, financing plan, project IRR), with a 15 percent preference margin applied to bids from companies registered in BRI partner countries. All bidding documents, evaluation reports, and award decisions will be published on the Brahman portal to ensure transparency, and an independent bid review panel — including two international experts nominated by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) — will oversee the evaluation process for projects valued over ¥2 billion.
The Anhui Provincial Government has also established a BRI Project Investment Facilitation Service that provides the following support to international bidders: assistance with bid bond issuance (¥5–20 million per project, depending on project value); matchmaking with qualified Chinese EPC contractors and equipment suppliers; streamlined work visa processing for bidder representatives conducting site visits and negotiations (processing time: 5 working days); and access to project financing advisory services through the Anhui Branch of the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China, which have jointly committed ¥15 billion in preferential lending facilities for BRI corridor projects with international participation.
7. Strategic Importance for Regional Trade Connectivity
The 23 BRI corridor projects are strategically designed to transform Anhui from a primarily domestic-oriented manufacturing economy into a comprehensive international trade gateway connecting China’s eastern manufacturing heartland with Central Asia, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The economic rationale is compelling: Anhui’s central location offers the shortest inland route between the Yangtze River Delta (China’s largest manufacturing and export region, accounting for approximately 25 percent of China’s total exports) and the China-Europe Railway Express network that connects to Central Asia and Europe. By upgrading the logistics, energy, and digital infrastructure along this corridor, the investment program aims to capture a significantly larger share of the growing China-Europe and China-Central Asia trade flows that currently transit through coastal ports (Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen) or through competing inland corridors (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe, Xi’an-Central Asia, Zhengzhou-Europe).
The project portfolio is expected to generate significant economic benefits beyond the direct returns to concessionaires and contractors. The Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission’s economic impact assessment projects that the completed infrastructure will increase Anhui’s international trade volume by an additional US$28 billion annually by 2035, stimulate ¥62 billion in additional private-sector investment along the corridor, create approximately 45,000 direct and indirect jobs, and reduce logistics costs for businesses operating in the Anhui corridor by an estimated 18–22 percent compared to current routes through coastal ports. The corridor is also expected to strengthen Anhui’s position as a preferred location for foreign-invested manufacturing and logistics operations serving Eurasian markets, with the potential to attract an additional 15–20 foreign-invested enterprises per year to the province’s manufacturing zones and logistics parks.
At the broader BRI level, the Anhui corridor investment program represents a new model of provincial-level BRI engagement that other Chinese provinces are expected to emulate. By opening major infrastructure projects to genuine international competitive bidding — rather than reserving them for Chinese state-owned enterprises — Anhui is signaling its commitment to transparent, market-based BRI project development that creates genuine commercial opportunities for international investors and contractors. The AIIB’s involvement as a co-financier and the engagement of international bid evaluation experts provide additional credibility signals. If successful, the Anhui model could influence how other Chinese provinces approach their BRI infrastructure development, shifting from the traditional state-led model to one that actively seeks international private-sector participation and financing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a foreign company bid on multiple projects simultaneously, or are there restrictions on the number of projects a single bidder can pursue?
A: Foreign companies may bid on any number of projects simultaneously, subject to the qualification requirements of each project. However, bidders should be aware of the “capacity limitation” provision in the bidding guidelines: the total value of projects for which a single company or consortium is the lead bidder may not exceed five times the company’s net asset value (or the combined net asset value of consortium members). This provision is designed to ensure that winning bidders have the financial capacity to perform on their contracts without overextending. For example, a company with ¥2 billion in net assets may bid on projects with a combined total value of up to ¥10 billion. Bidders that exceed this threshold must submit a detailed financial capacity statement demonstrating their ability to perform on all projects simultaneously, including committed bank facilities, parent company guarantees, or project finance arrangements. The Anhui BRI Project Bidding Office provides pre-submission financial capacity assessment for prospective bidders upon request.
Q: What is the expected timeline from bid submission to contract award for EPC and PPP projects?
A: The standard timeline for international competitive bidding (ICB) projects is 120–150 days from bid submission to contract award. The evaluation process proceeds as follows: bid opening (1 week after submission deadline) → technical evaluation and clarification (30–45 days) → commercial evaluation and financial model review (30–45 days) → bid evaluation committee review and recommendation (15 days) → award approval by the Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission (15 days) → contract negotiation and execution (30 days). For PPP and BOT projects with higher complexity, the timeline may extend to 180 days, including a 30-day period for financial close negotiations between the winning bidder and project financiers. Bidders are advised to maintain the validity of their bid bonds for a minimum of 180 days from the bid submission deadline. The Anhui BRI Project Bidding Office provides a detailed timeline for each specific project in the invitation for bids documentation and updates the expected timeline on the project portal weekly during the evaluation period.
Q: Are there local content requirements for equipment and materials used in BRI corridor projects?
A: There are no mandatory local content requirements for the BRI corridor projects. However, the bid evaluation criteria include a “local economic benefit” component (10 percent of the technical score) that awards additional points for bidders who propose to source a minimum of 30 percent of project materials and equipment from Anhui-based suppliers or to subcontract at least 20 percent of the project value to Anhui-registered companies. This scoring component is not a disqualification criterion — bidders who do not meet the local sourcing threshold are not disqualified but will receive a proportionally lower score on this evaluation dimension. Bidders who propose innovative approaches to local supplier development — such as technology transfer programs, local staff training commitments, or joint venture arrangements with Anhui companies — may receive additional bonus points. The Anhui BRI Project Bidding Office maintains a qualified supplier database of Anhui-based companies in all relevant project categories and can assist bidders in identifying and qualifying potential local supply chain partners before bid submission.
Q: How are exchange rate risks managed for foreign investors in RMB-denominated concession and BOT projects?
A: The Anhui Provincial Government has established a BRI Project Exchange Rate Risk Mitigation Facility (the “ERRM Facility”) to address the exchange rate risk concerns of international investors in long-term RMB-denominated projects. The ERRM Facility, administered by the Anhui Branch of the People’s Bank of China in collaboration with the China Foreign Exchange Trade System, offers the following risk management instruments to qualifying international project investors: (1) RMB cross-currency swaps at preferential rates (50–80 basis points below market rates) for converting project revenue streams into US dollars, euros, or yen, with tenors matching the project’s debt repayment schedule (up to 20 years); (2) a minimum guaranteed exchange rate mechanism for projects with concession agreements — if the spot RMB/USD exchange rate depreciates by more than 5 percent from the base rate at the time of financial close, the ERRM Facility compensates the project company for the difference on all RMB revenue converted to foreign currency for debt service and profit repatriation, up to a maximum of 10 percent depreciation; and (3) the option to denominate a portion of the project company’s debt (up to 30 percent of total debt) in foreign currency, with the project company’s onshore RMB revenues used to service this foreign-currency debt through the ERRM Facility’s designated foreign exchange conversion channel. International bidders should discuss their specific exchange rate risk management requirements with the ERRM Facility during the due diligence phase of bidding.
Q: What environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) requirements apply to the BRI corridor projects?
A: All 23 BRI corridor projects are subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements of the PRC Environmental Protection Law and the more stringent Anhui Provincial Environmental Protection Regulations. For projects with a total investment exceeding ¥1 billion, a full EIA report (rather than a simplified EIA registration form) is required, including: baseline environmental monitoring data; air quality, water quality, noise, and ecological impact modeling; a detailed environmental management plan; and a public consultation report documenting community engagement activities and stakeholder feedback. Projects co-financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) — currently the Hefei Land-Sea Port and the Bengbu solar-plus-storage project — are additionally subject to the AIIB’s Environmental and Social Framework (2021), which requires compliance with international standards including the World Bank Group’s Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Guidelines and the IFC Performance Standards on land acquisition and resettlement. The Anhui Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment has established a dedicated BRI project EIA fast-track process with a target review time of 60 working days for full EIAs (compared to the standard 90 working days) and has confirmed that EIA documentation prepared to AIIB standards will be accepted as meeting provincial EIA requirements to avoid duplication. AIIB-financed projects are also required to establish a project-level grievance redress mechanism for affected communities, operated independently of the project contractor and operator.
Conclusion
Anhui Province’s opening of 23 BRI corridor investment projects for international bidding represents a significant opportunity for foreign infrastructure developers, investors, and contractors to participate in one of China’s most ambitious provincial-level Belt and Road initiatives. The ¥46 billion project portfolio — spanning logistics infrastructure, industrial parks, energy systems, and digital connectivity — offers diverse participation models from EPC contracting to long-term PPP concessions, with transparent bidding processes, preferential financing support, and a regulatory framework designed to attract international participation. For companies seeking to expand their presence in China’s infrastructure market, to participate in the BRI’s growing inland corridor network, or to establish strategic positions in one of China’s fastest-growing provinces, the Anhui BRI corridor investment program offers a structured and well-supported entry point. Complete project documentation, bidding guidelines, and bidder registration are available at https://bri.anhui.gov.cn. For direct inquiries, contact the Anhui BRI Project Bidding Office at +86-551-6283-7900 or via email at bri@anhui.gov.cn.