Investment Commitments Remain at Peak Level in Europe and Central Asia While the Number of New Projects Declines

Private activity in infrastructure in Europe and Central Asia showed mixed results in 2008, according to just-released data from the Private Participation in Infrastructure Project database. Investment in new projects slowed sharply in the second half of the year with the full onset of the financial crisis. This slowdown led to a decline in the number of projects for the entire year. The region accounted for 30 percent of the year's total investment commitments in developing countries, the largest share among developing regions. In 2008, 36 infrastructure projects with private participation reached financial or contractual closure in 11 low- or middle-income countries in the region. These involve investment commitments (hereafter, investment) of US$20.3 billion. Infrastructure projects implemented in previous years had additional commitments of US$25.7 billion, bringing total investment in 2008 to US$45.9 billion. That represented an increase of 3 percent from the level reported in 2007 and a new peak for the region. Investment in projects implemented in previous years accounted for the increase, growing by 6 percent from the level in 2007.