Finance & Funding

Uruguay’s transport investment is seeing major gains

August 1, 2017

Uruguay’s road development programme will help deliver economic growth for the future - Gordon Feller reports. Uruguay is embarking on a new nationwide programme to rehabilitate 890km of roads, and the government intends to improve an additional 260km of dangerous highways and roads. This three-year programme aims to reduce traffic accidents, in part thanks to a US$70 million loan recently authorised by the World Bank’s board of directors. The new operation uses a special financing instrument known as “Prog

Poland targets 300km or new roads for Western Pomerania by 2023

August 1, 2017

Poland’s General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) plans to build around 300km of roads in Western Pomerania by 2023. The move is part of the National Roads Construction Programme. Among the project in the region that borders the country’s Baltic Sea coast is an S3 dual carriageway between the towns of Swinoujscie and Szczecin. Poland’s General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) plans to build around 300km of roads in Western Pomerania by 2023. The move is part of the

Guatemala road development requires planning

July 31, 2017

The Guatemala Government is now working on a plan to address the deficiencies in the country’s road network. Key issues include reforming State Procurement Law, giving greater authority to the general road agency, Direccion General de Caminos (DGC) and the Army Engineers Group, and stopping road projects that face serious problems.

Seittsa set to take on management of bankrupt Spanish motorways

July 31, 2017

The Spanish government has given the green light for the state-owned transport infrastructure firm Seittsa to manage nine bankrupt toll motorways. The deal is for Seittsa to prepare the terms for their retender to private companies by the end of next year. Spanish media report that the cost is set to be lower than the €3.5 billion previously estimated by some analysts. The arrangement comes after three years of failed attempts by the government to step in and facilitate debt restructuring between the invest

Kubota establishing European headquarters

July 26, 2017

Kubota is establishing a European headquarters at Nieuw-Vennep in the Netherlands. This move comes as the Japanese compact machine specialist says it wishes to further develop its presence in the European market. Called Kubota Holdings Europe, the new business will be 100% owned by the Kubota Corporation. Kubota established its first European business 43 years ago and this latest development is intended to help coordinate and grow its activities further.

India helping fund Nepal infrastructure

July 26, 2017

India is helping with funding for Nepal’s infrastructure development programme. In particular this funding will be used to help expand and improve Nepal’s highway network. The move has been highlighted by the recent presentation of a US$2.31 million cheque by the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Manjeev Singh Puri, to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management, Nepal. This financial assistance will be used in the construction of the Postal Highway, the Maisthan-Gaushalabazaar-Samsi Road and

India road projects being carried out

July 26, 2017

The Indian Government has plans to redevelop road infrastructure links in the north east of the country. Planned spending of US$31.1 billion will be used to improve and upgrade the road network in the area by 2019. Plans have been drawn up by India’s National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd (NHIDCL) and by the Public Works Department of states.

Italian construction machine firms see resurgence

July 25, 2017

The Italian construction machinery builders association, UNACEA, reports a resurgence in demand for equipment during 2017. According to UNACEA’s latest report, the first six months of 2017 have seen 5,109 machines sold in the Italian market, an increase of 6% compared to last year. Looking more closely, sales of earthmoving machines grew 6% with 4,910 machines sold, while sales of road equipment increased by 9% with 199 machines sold.

China’s infrastructure development for Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces

July 21, 2017

China’s Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces are developing transport infrastructure with a series of major projects. In Anhui Province plans have been drawn up for road and highway improvements as well as upgrades to other categories of transport infrastructure over the period from 2017 to 2021. The road expansion programme will see Anhui Province increase its highway network by 1,157km to 5,700km during this period.

Volvo CE sees strong financial performance in second quarter

July 19, 2017

Strong financial performance in claimed by Volvo CE for the second quarter of 2017. The firm saw sales grow 36% in a strong second quarter, aided by its transformation programme and from increasing demand in key markets. There were significant improvements in both sales and earnings. Good cost control as volumes return also resulted in a significant improvement in profitability. Net sales in the second quarter amounting to SEK 18,511 million for the second quarter of 2017, compared with SEK 13,630 million f