Finance & Funding

Plans are progressing in Kazakhstan for the project to construct the Big Almaty Ring Road. A number of investors are involved in financing the project and are planning to invest US$1.2 billion in the ring road. The contract will include construction and operation of the project. Strong interest has been shown in the project by the EBRD, the Asian Development Bank, IFC, and the Islamic Development Bank. Meanwhile according to Kazakhstan's Committee of Roads, the economic effect of the Western Europe-Western

According to a report from US-based research firm Freedonia, world demand for construction machinery will grow by 3.9%/year to $218 billion by 2019. The Asia/Pacific region, Central and South America, and the Africa/Mideast region are all expected to register above average gains looking ahead as construction spending, particularly on infrastructure projects, continues to increase. More than two-thirds of all additional construction equipment demand generated between 2014 and 2019 will be in China according

Canada’s infrastructure minister, Denis Label, officially broke ground for Montreal’s replacement Champlain Bridge, saying the project will likely cost US$3.42 billion. The 3.4km Champlain Bridge Corridor Project, including spans and highway expansions, is expected to be completed by 2019. SNC-Lavalin, the 50% stakeholder in the winning consortium Signature on the Saint-Lawrence, recently announced it had finalised the deal with new Champlain Bridge owner Infrastructure Canada. Signature on the Saint-

Columbian president Juan Manuel Santos Colombia has said pension fund money could help finance the country’s ambitious 4G motorway projects. Columbia has 35 road projects underway costing more than US$11.7 billion, including the first two 4G tender waves with six public-private partnerships that have already been approved. During a banking convention held in the coastal city of Cartagena in mid-June, Banco Davivienda president Efrain Forero lending capacity studies have been completed for 4GH projects

Funding for a major freeway project in Iran could come from foreign sources. The Tabriz-Marand-Bazargan freeway looks likely to be built using foreign investment. A plan for the project has been approved by the Organisation for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran (OIETAI). This new freeway forms part of a larger programme of road and highway construction in Iran. The aim is to increase the total length of freeways across the country from the present 2,360km to 5,200km in the next four year

A study reveals construction sector worries about public procurement practice in Poland. The study was commissioned by the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure and Development. Ulrich Paetzold, director general of FIEC, the European Construction Industry Federation commented that the study on how 'to implement intervention priorities as foreseen by the National Development Strategy 2020', “…confirms yet again some of the fundamental problems repeatedly stressed over several years by contractors and consulting

Discussions have been held between Brazil and Paraguay over the plans to build a new bridge between the countries. Work carried out by Construbase-Paulitec was reviewed by officials from the countries at an event held recently in Brasilia. Previous plans for work to start on the bridge had to be put on hold due to financing problems in Brazil. Construction work on the bridge looks set to recommence in August 2015 however.

Strong interest is being shown in a major highway project in Slovakia. The tender process is attracting a series of bidders for what will be Slovakia’s largest ever highway contract. The project is expected to be worth some €4.53 billion in all and involves the construction of a bypass around capital Bratislava. A series of major firms are interested in the bidding including China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), a consortium headed by VINCI Concessions and a consortium comprised of Bouygues Tra