Private Participation in Infrastructure Database

2012-01, Nicholas, Alexander

In the first semester of 2011, 34 new transport projects with private participation reached financial or contractual closure in nine low- and middle-income countries, involving investment commitments (hereafter investments) of US$17 billion.1 Investment in the first semester of 2011 increased by 17 percent compared with the first semester of 2010, on par with pre-crisis levels in the first semester of 2008. By number of projects, activity in 2011 decreased by 31 percent compared with the first semester of 2010 indicating fewer, larger projects in middle income countries. As in recent periods, private investment continued to concentrate in India and the road sector globally. India attracted 70 percent of private investment in transport and implemented 65 percent of transport projects with private participation. Globally, there were 23 road projects involving investment of US$8.7 billion. Railroads attracted the second highest investment level with US$6.1 billion invested in three large metro transit projects. Five port projects reached financial closure with investments of US$1.4 billion, and three airport projects attracted investments of US$360 million.

2010-09, Izaguirre, Ada Karina, Nicholas, Alexander

Private activity in transport declined for the third consecutive year in developing countries. Investments fell by 20 percent and the number of projects dropped by 19 percent in 2009 compared with 2008, according to recently released data from the Private Participation in Infrastructure Database. New private activity in transport was concentrated in road projects, and in a few large developing economies such as Brazil, India, and Mexico. In 2009, 50 transport projects with private participation reached financial or contractual closure in 20 low- and middle-income countries. These projects involved investment commitments of US$19.2 billion. Transport projects implemented in previous years received additional commitments of US$2.5 billion, bringing total investment in 2009 to US$21.7 billion. The private activity was concentrated in the first two quarters of 2009, which accounted for 75 percent of investment in new projects and 64 percent of new projects. Similar concentration occurred in 2008 before the full onset of the global financial crisis. The backlog of projects from the second half of 2008 and the easing of financial constraints in the first half of 2009 (compared with the second half of 2008) may partially explain the concentration of PPI activity in the first half of 2009. Preliminary data suggests that activity by investment and number of projects in the first quarter of 2010 was similar to that reported in the first quarter of 2009.