Rommel Gavieta’s Post

Connecting Europe can be expensive, but it is essential. Private capital can be expensive, but it is essential for connecting Europe. ‘The European Commission has indicated that member states must also seek their own funding. The Commission expects that countries will be able to propose financing solutions for such a large-scale project that do not rely solely on the Commission's funding”. The Connecting Europe Facility is useful but stretched like all EU funding sources. For instance the European Commission announced this week that 43 energy projects out of 264 proposals have been selected under the latest Horizon Europe call to share EUR 241.6 million. When the Rail Baltica megaproject which has received substantial Connecting Europe Facility funding, strong international political support, has adopted alliancing, integrated delivery models and modern methods of construction, and now recognises the need for public-private partnerships, policymakers, infrastructure owners, and industry leaders around the EU need to take heed and reset the discourse on PPPs. Megaprojects and programmes are moving forward on each corner of the EU from Lisbon to Dublin by owners considering how to use PPP from the outset to compliment other tools available, not for ideological reasons but for logical reasons. Private finance is accessible, public grants are a lottery. As the EU election nears, I hope we will hear realistic proposals from candidates and colleagues about what they can build in partnership with the EU, and other partners, and not based on what they think they should get from the EU. The notion that ‘Europe will pay for it’ should not be central to business cases for infrastructure projects, or manifestos. European Infrastructure Conference #infrastructure

The Minister of Planning and Investment Talks About the Sa Pa Airport Project At the Conference of the Coordinating Council for the Mid-Northern Mountainous Region, which combined the announcement of the regional planning for the period 2021-2030 and the vision towards 2050, held today (May 24) in Phu Tho, the Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Chi Dung, presented the implementation status of some important projects and regional connectivity. Conference of the Coordinating Council for the Mid-Northern Mountainous Region. (Photo: MPI) According to Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, in the past time, the Prime Minister has prioritized allocating resources to invest in many large-scale expressway projects, contributing to changing the face of the region’s infrastructure. Among them, the project for the construction of Sa Pa Airport, Lao Cai Province (under the BOT form) has completed site clearance for phase 1. The project has not yet selected an investor. Lao Cai Province is adjusting the investment policy of the project to increase the State budget capital participation in the project. In terms of scale, Sa Pa Airport will be built to meet the standards of a class 4C airport with a capacity of 1.5 million passengers per year. The total investment is VND 4,208 billion, of which VND 2,103 billion is from the State budget. The project for the construction of the Tuyen Quang – Phu Tho expressway, connecting to the Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressway, has been basically completed and put into operation on December 24, 2023, adding about 40 km of expressway with 4 lanes, thus connecting to the Tuyen Quang – Ha Giang expressway. “For the Tuyen Quang – Ha Giang expressway project, the two localities are reviewing and proposing a plan to expand it to a complete 4-lane scale, while extending it from Bac Quang (Ha Giang) to Ha Giang city,” said Minister Nguyen Chi Dung. Investment in the Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway project. (Photo: VGP) The Minister of Planning and Investment also said that the project for the construction of the Dong Dang (Lang Son) – Tra Linh (Cao Bang) expressway is facing some difficulties and problems. Specifically, the land use target in Lang Son Province by 2025 needs to increase by 188 hectares of traffic land. The procedure for converting forest land use purposes takes a lot of time. The ability to mobilize capital of the investor is also difficult, so the project is adjusting the investment policy to increase the State budget capital participation by VND 3,220 billion. This project is expected to complete phase 1 with a length of 93 km in 2025 (the whole line is 121 km long) Notably, according to the Minister of Planning and Investment, the entire line of the Hoa Lac – Hoa Binh – Moc Chau (Son La) expressway project has not yet started construction and is behind the approved schedule. In addition, ministries and branches are also studying investment plans for some projects: the route connecting Ha Gia...

How can combined authorities and local transport authorities create the effective organisations needed to deliver local transport and infrastructure investment?   WSP in the UK Director and Change Management specialist Leanne Smith-Perrins outlines six ways to establish teams to transform mobility for local communities.   Read the full article, the latest in our series on delivering local transport infrastructure in the age of devolution.   #DrivingDevolution #togetherwecreate https://lnkd.in/ekT4m3Mg

Check out this new blog on enhancing sustainable development in FCV (fragility, conflict, and violence) regions and discover how The World Bank is tackling the challenges of #infrastructure investment, emphasizing resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability through the Quality Infrastructure Investment Partnership. 🌍💼    #IFCInfrastructure 

How can combined authorities and local transport authorities create the effective organisations needed to deliver local transport and infrastructure investment?   WSP in the UK Director and Change Management specialist Leanne Smith-Perrins outlines six ways to establish teams to transform mobility for local communities.   Read the full article, the latest in our series on delivering local transport infrastructure in the age of devolution.   #DrivingDevolution #togetherwecreate https://lnkd.in/e6WWbPW3

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will lend #Czechia 13 billion crowns (526 million euros) for the modernisation of the country’s rail infrastructure. The money will be used to increase both freight and passenger capacity, as well as to strengthen the three #TENT lines on #Czech territory. #railfreight #railfreightnews #railcargonews

How can combined authorities and local transport authorities create the effective organisations needed to deliver local transport and infrastructure investment?   WSP in the UK Director and Change Management specialist Leanne Smith-Perrins outlines six ways to establish teams to transform mobility for local communities.   Read the full article, the latest in our series on delivering local transport infrastructure in the age of devolution.   #DrivingDevolution #togetherwecreate #wearewsp https://lnkd.in/e5Z4UDmT

Local leaders in the #Midlands will be “empowered” to decide what to do with the reallocated HS2 investment, as part of government’s levelling up agenda. https://lnkd.in/e8PNhRgD #Landlords #property #transport #regeneration

The European Commission has earmarked €1 billion to support recharging and refuelling infrastructure through the Connecting Europe Facility (#CEF). This substantial investment underscores the commitment to foster sustainable mobility across the continent. 👍 However, as we welcome this progressive step, it's crucial to build a more inclusive approach to funding allocation. While the current framework prioritizes stability, it inadvertently sidelines ventures with higher risk profiles. Notably, the stringent financing terms of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Fund (#AFIF) which makes the headlines today often deter investment in riskier projects, particularly in emerging industries and initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe. To address this disparity, it's imperative for the European Investment Bank (EIB) and #InvestEU to explore avenues for supporting ventures with elevated risk profiles. By equipping InvestEU to provide loans and equity for such undertakings, we can cultivate a more diverse and dynamic investment landscape. This inclusive approach not only accelerates innovation but also ensures equitable access to funding opportunities. https://lnkd.in/eERCRrNG Aaron Fishbone

Discover how quality infrastructure investment can pave the way for sustainable development in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Countries (FCVs). This blog explores the transformative power of strategic #infrastructureprojects in FCVs, offering key insights and strategies for fostering stability and prosperity: https://lnkd.in/e7YfgkAh #infrastructurefinance #infrastructuredevelopment #infrastructureinvestment #PPP #PPPs #publicprivatepartnerships