Sustainable Infrastructure Awards 2022 | The Asset | 25 March 2022 | TBA

Asia faces immense requirements for infrastructure, which requires the public sector partnering with the private sector to fill the gap. Infrastructure is a vital ingredient necessary to sustain economic development. Numerous hurdles need to be overcome, not least in developing bankable projects, and also to structure deals that can be sold into the capital markets.

According to Asian Development Bank, infrastructure needs in developing Asia and the Pacific will exceed US$22.6 trillion through 2030, or US$1.5 trillion per year. The estimates rise to over US$26 trillion, or US$1.7 trillion per year, when climate change mitigation and adaptation costs are incorporated.

A growing segment of infrastructure in the region is on renewable projects. Whether they are energy-related and/or linked to ESG, these trendsetting projects are defining a new phase in infrastructure finance that takes into consideration the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

Partnering with the private sector in so-called PPP (Public-Private Partnership) scheme have also taken off and are showing promising results. As well, the low interest-rate environment is spurring institutional and private investors to consider taking stakes in viable projects. Infrastructure is now an asset class within the alternatives investment universe.