Finance & Funding

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are planning to help develop infrastructure in projects in Armenia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. From now until 2021, EDB will provide US$1 billion while the ADB will provide $2 billion. In addition, the banks have signed an agreement on additional co-financing of the construction of the North - South motorway in Armenia. EDB will provide $320 million for the project.

Plans are being made for a series of major infrastructure projects in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand in a bid to boost the transport network. To capitalise on the market potential, a consortium is being set up between Italian-Thai Development (ITD) and Chinese firms, including state-owned China Railway Engineering (CREC) and King Trillion. This partnership will invest in new infrastructure projects in Myanmar’s Dawei Special Economic Zone (DSEZ). The consortium plans to invest over US$396 million in cons

A series of major road and other infrastructure projects is planned for Pakistan. The country's Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has given clearance to six projects worth a total of US%813.33 million. The projects that have gained approval include construction, rehabilitation and improvement of the 174.14km long Kohlu-Sibi Road. It will be 6.5m wide and feature a construction with three layers of asphalt. A project has also been approved for upgrading the 64km long Mandra Chakwal

Indonesia is continuing with its toll road expansion programme. The construction firm Jakarta Tollroad Development (JTD) is speeding up the construction of the six toll roads in Jakarta. The projects are expected to cost in the region of US$3.16 billion. These form part of the programme to construct 47 toll new roads, with this work making up Indonesia’s National Strategic Project. JTD is sourcing funding in the form of syndicated bank loan. Bank Mandiri is supplying this loans package.

Plans are moving forward for a new highway that will link Kosovo’s capital Pristina with Belgrade, the capital of neighbouring Serbia. The project is of importance as it reveals the continued improvement in diplomatic relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Serbia’s Ministry of Construction says that work on the route will commence in the first half 2017. The financing model for the project has yet to be established. Talks are being held with European partners. The cost of the project has not yet been revealed

Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) is looking to secure financing for the second phase of its PRVC cantonal road programme. MOPT is hoping to secure the necessary funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). A loan of US$140 million will be required. The first phase of the project was funded by a $60 million loan from the IADB. This first phase includes the construction of new roads in Mora, Santa Ana, San Mateo, Turrubarres and Zarcero. MOPT hopes to receive funds for th

Vietnam’s Government is setting out plans for a major programme of road and bridge work. The programme calls for a series of road maintenance works as well as bridge building projects. Maintenance will be carried out on 61km of road spanning more than 61km while upgrades will be carried out to 676km of roads. The links being improved include roads in Soc Trang, An Giang, Hai Duong, Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Lau Chau and Ha Giang provinces.

The authorities in the Chinese city of Changsha have announced plans for transportation developments worth US$13.87 billion. This programme will form a key component of the 13th Five-Year Plan period from 2016-2020. The plans will see the construction of 6,111km of rural roads, upgrades or expansion works to 2,232km of trunk routes and building 127.3km expressways. The city is also planning to buy a further 647 electric buses during 2016, in addition to the 453 it already has in its fleet. Changsha also pl

Argentina’s Government has plans to upgrade Route 5, Route 7 and Route 8 into highways. The work will cost US$647.2 million and the first sections are already being completed. Around 210km of Route 7 will be upgraded to a highway while a 165km stretch of Route 8 will be upgraded to a highway. The work on Route 8 will reach Solis in 2017 and Pergamino in 2019, while Route 5 will be turned into a highway between Lujan and Bragado, with the work due for completion in 2019.

Costs are climbing for a new road tunnel connection in Hong Kong. After a reassessment on the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin tunnel (Tseung-Lam tunnel) development project, the project cost increased from US$1.05 billion to $1.92 billion. The expected completion time has also been delayed from 2020 to 2021. The 4.2km tunnel will feature two lanes. The project is intended to reduce traffic congestion in Tseung Kwan O area during peak hours. Hong Kong’s Transport and Housing Bureau hopes to obtain approval from the Fi