"Georgia: Chinese investment "illusory" – investigation", 3 June 2021

A recent investigation in Georgia has shown that much-vaunted Chinese investment can turn out to be more PR than reality.

...The investigation unpacks two promised factories...one would have built locomotives and the other outerwear for export...Under the agreement, signed in 2015, the new plant would not only have produced modern electric and diesel locomotives for domestic use and export, but also much-needed spare parts – thus improving Georgia’s ability to participate in the BRI [Belt and Road Initiative].

At the end of 2018, Chinese investors toured the town and selected two potential locations. They have not been heard from since...IFact.ge counts “20 agreements and 10 memoranda” signed between Georgian and Chinese representatives in the last 10 years, with little concrete to show.