In Brisbane in 2014 the G20 outlined the importance of infrastructure creation as a primary lever for fuelling global growth and improving living standards. This was the first time that a vision of infrastructure as a driver of global productivity and growth was given a significant voice.

This view of infrastructure as a global, not national, challenge is important as it allows countries to look at the broader benefits created by unlocking growth in other countries, rather than focusing on any potential detriment to their own. In infrastructure it is accepted that the need for global growth is a higher priority than the existing competition between countries for capital.

And capital is looking for new opportunities. The lack of growth, historically low interest rates and fully valued equity markets are driving investors to look for alternate long term investments with manageable risk characteristics. As there is a growing willingness for investors to look further afield to put their money to work, investments into infrastructure in emerging markets is beginning to attract substantial attention. However, for capital to flow to less developed markets, infrastructure projects need to be attractively structured and public sector support is needed to “crowd in” private funding. Hence the importance of this paper which recognises the complicated nature of the infrastructure markets as well as the wide and varied nature of the different bodies involved in it. The World Economic Forum has a long and distinguished history of recognising the important issues of the day and promoting dialogue between the Public and Private Sectors. They have had strong focus and involvement in the infrastructure markets and their membership includes many world leading infrastructure companies.

The paper provides the most comprehensive list to date of entities available in the market and usefully seeks to categorise them into four (4) broad areas. It also looks in greater detail at some of the new organisations which have been recently formed, and raises interesting questions about the potential for disruptive digital technologies to improve communication and networking, leading to more efficient procurement processes.

The paper envisages the GIH forming a portal allowing easy access to this information and we are well advanced in creating such a portal. This paper complements our work in this area and will provide easier access to people, knowledge and products. I commend this paper as an excellent entry point to gain a better insight into the infrastructure market.

Report by the World Economic Forum