Lifting Constraints to Public-Private Partnerships in South Asia

Abstract

Today policymakers increasingly recognize that public-private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure offer the most promise for developing infrastructure and improving services. Countries in South Asia face a dual challenge in infrastructure: many households and businesses lack access to services, and those that do have access suffer from unreliable and poor-quality service. This paper recommends minimizing restraints by: building consensus for PPPs, moving toward cost recovery, improving transparency, enhancing government capacity, fostering effective regulation, and easing financial constraints.