(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2009-12) Izaguirre, Ada Karina; Jett, Alexander Nicholas
Private activity in infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean showed mixed results in 2008, according to just-released data from the Private Participation in Infrastructure Project database. Investment in new projects slowed in the second half of the year with the full onset of the financial crisis. This slowdown led to a decline in the number of projects for the entire year. The region accounted for 26 percent of the year's total investment commitments in developing countries, the second largest share among developing regions. In 2008, 41 infrastructure projects with private participation reached financial or contractual closure in eight low- or middle-income countries in the region. These projects involve investment commitments (hereafter, investment) of US$14.6 billion. Infrastructure projects implemented in previous years had additional commitments of US$25.7 billion, bringing total investment in 2008 to US$40.3 billion. That represented an increase of 2 percent from the level reported in 2007. Investment in existing projects, up 12 percent from the level in 2007, drove the increase.
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008-12) Izaguirre, Ada Karina; Jett, Alexander Nicholas
Investment commitments to infrastructure projects with private participation in Latin America and the Caribbean grew by 28 percent to US$38.3 billion in 2007, according to just-released data from the private participation in infrastructure project database. The region accounted for 24 percent of the year's total investment commitments in developing countries. Despite having grown for four consecutive years, investment commitments remained well below the region's peak levels reached in 1997-98. Investment in 2007 was just 44 percent of the peak in 1998. Previously implemented projects largely drove the 2007 investment. Projects reaching financial or contractual closure in 1990-2006 attracted US$22.3 billion, while the 46 new projects implemented in 2007 accounted for US$16 billion. Investment in physical assets amounted to US$32.5 billion. Indeed, if only investment in physical assets were counted-that is, excluding payments to the government (such as divestiture revenues and spectrum or concession fees) investment in 2007 would be just 22 percent below the peak level of 1998.
