The Civil Engineering Contractor June 2018

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP Infrastructure is king By Archie Rutherford Motheo Construction Group discusses the present status of the infra sector and outlines the part they play in transformation within the South African sector. AECOM’s report launched at the 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos in January, emphasised that adequate investment in infrastructure projects is crucial to national prosperity. I t is important to note that the infrastructure report launched by integrated infrastructure delivery company AECOM at the 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos in January, emphasised that adequate investment in infrastructure projects is crucial to national prosperity. The inaugural report surveyed over 500 professionals 34 - CEC June 2018 worldwide, and outlined the major issues faced in delivering infrastructure projects. Hot on the heels of this report, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), managed by Investec Asset Management (IAM), announced in April that its latest fundraising drive had delivered USD385-million in new long- term debt capital to invest in Africa. The funds will be deployed over the next five years to continue EAIF’s core strategy of mobilising private-sector capital for investment in infrastructure projects, mainly in fragile states. Existing lenders are KFW, the German Development Bank, FMO, the Dutch Development Finance Institution,

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