Lisbon, Sept. 9, 2026 (Lusa) - The report on «China-Africa Belt and Road Investment and Cooperation», released on Wednesday in Bissau, concluded that political instability in Guinea-Bissau is the main obstacle to attracting Chinese private investment.
The study's findings were reported by the Guinea-Bissau media and viewed by Lusa on social media.
The study, prepared and presented by the Research and Extension Group in Economics and Management at Jean Piaget University, examined Guinea-Bissau's economic potential within the context of China's global «Belt and Road» initiative.
The study also analysed Beijing's strategic priorities for economic expansion on the African continent.
According to the data presented, business caution stands out in the survey results: 45% of the companies surveyed ruled out the possibility of investing in African countries, with a particular focus on Guinea-Bissau.
Meanwhile, 19% of economic operators expressed an interest in focusing their efforts on the infrastructure and construction engineering sectors.
During the presentation, the research group leader, Ansu Mancal, argued that the Guinea-Bissau government needs to adopt a «more assertive strategy» for economic promotion, enabling the Chinese business community to gain «first-hand» knowledge of local opportunities.
The study also highlights that this understanding will foster effective participation in the initiative launched by Beijing in 2013, which China regards as a «key mechanism» for channelling financial flows towards infrastructure development.
The report places these figures in a continental context, noting that China injected more than $295 billion into Africa during the period covered by the study.
The analysis emphasises that Chinese companies' investment decisions depend on a rigorous set of criteria, including the socio-cultural environment, the political and legal framework, logistical and industrial support, the dynamics of bilateral cooperation policies, and the local market's capacity for expansion.
In light of the identified climate of retrenchment and mistrust, the authors of the document recommend that the Guinea-Bissau government «implement structural reforms aimed at political stabilisation, legal predictability and the consolidation of the business climate».
The study highlights these conditions as key to capitalising on the potential for cooperation between Guinea-Bissau and the Asian economy.
* The Lusa news agency's bureau in Guinea-Bissau has been suspended since August 2025 following the government's expulsion of representatives from Portuguese media organisations. Coverage is currently being provided remotely *
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