Private Investment Vital to Public Infrastructure

(Read more on the debt and equity markets.)

NEW YORK CITY-As recent events such as the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis on Aug. 1, show, public infrastructure requires investment to make safety repairs and maintenance. The private sector could provide a major part of the solution for governments struggling to fund these projects, according a recent report by Ernst & Young titled “Investing in Global Infrastructure 2007: An Emerging Asset Class.”

The huge capital demands of large-scale infrastructure projects around the world–running into more than a trillion dollars over the next decade–will likely create intense competition among governments to attract private investment. The report estimates private sources could account for 10% to 15% or roughly $240 billion to $360 billion of the capital needed for infrastructure projects annually worldwide.