Finance & Funding

Vietnam is considering selling its ownership in several major highways to help pay for more road projects. The Ministry of Transport (MoT) recently said that the government’s infrastructure investor body Vietnam Infrastructure Development and Finance Investment (VIDIFI), would sell 70% of its ownership in the Hanoi–Hai Phong Highway project to a buyer from India. The move is part of a strategy that could see Vietnam sell off more of its investment in highway projects, either under construction or complete

Jakarta Tollroad Development (JTD) has said it aims to start construction of the six Jakarta inner city toll roads in the middle of next year. The project, nearly 70km in total and much of it elevated, is at the detailed engineering design stage. The toll roads will connect all five of Jakarta’s municipalities. The first construction stage involving the Semanan-Sunter-Pulogebang toll road is expected to US$1.20 billion. Total cost for the whole project is estimated at up to $3.2 billion. According to

The Italian construction equipment manufacturer body Unacea has revealed comprehensive information on machine sales and exports. The data shows that construction machine sales in Italy grew 12% in the first nine months of 2014. However exports fell 7% and Unacea believes that the export performance of Italian manufacturers on the world market will have shrunk by the end of the year compared with the figures for 2013. Over the first nine months of 2014, construction equipment sold in the Italian market sto

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) reported 9% improvement in North American sales for the third quarter 2014. However, the manufactures said it was not enough to overcome uncertainty and negative growth elsewhere. Net sales in the three months July to September increased to US$1,735 million (SEK 12,582 million), up from $1,692 million (SEK12,278 million) for the same period last year. However, when adjusted for currency movements, net sales were down by 3% during the period. Volvo’s statement said “

A major programme of PPP road construction concession contracts is due for Colombia. This has been given the go ahead by Colombia's National Council for Economic and Social Policy (Conpes). The programme is for a second round of 4G highway concessions through PPPs, worth up to US$16.5 billion in all, with 10 highway projects to be built. These are: the Autopista Mar 1; Autopista Mar 2; Neiva-Girardot; Villavicencio-Yopal; Rumichaca-Pasto; Puerta de Hierro-Palmar de Varela-Cruz del Viso; Santana-Mocoa-Neiva/

The authorities in Uzbekistan have plans in hand to construct some 423km of roads in 2015. Funding for a considerable portion of the construction work will come in the shape of loans. The Asian Development Bank is one of the funding sources and is providing loans being sued for financing 85km of the work required. The country has budgeted around US$1.17 billion for purchasing of road building equipment, an increase of 35% from the previous year.

Cat Financial Services, the finance arm of Caterpillar Inc., reported third-quarter 2014 revenues of US$743 million, an increase of $44 million, or 6%, compared with the third quarter of 2013.

In the Philippines the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has authorised 12 public-private partnership (PPP) and other infrastructure projects. However the US$473.5 million North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road project has still to be discussed by NEDA. The board gave its authorisation for the $28.3 million Sen Gil Puyat Avenue-Makati Avenue-Paseo de Roxas vehicles underpass project. The $89.5 million Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project Phase 6 also secured a

In Ethiopia the construction of two new road links will be carried out by Chinese and Spanish contractors. The Ethiopia Roads Authority (ERA) awarded a contract worth close to US$48 million to Hunan Huanda Road and Bridge Corporation of China to build a 48.3km road in the south of the country. The work will take 29 months to complete. Two Spanish firms meanwhile will work together to carry out a $60.6 million contract in Ethiopia’s Oromia State. This project is for a 63km road connecting Ambo with Walliso.

The Algerian Ministry for Public Works plans for tolling to commence on the East-West Highway before the end of 2015. The charges will be linked to the maintenance and management costs of the link. A study is underway providing the necessary information required to outline the concession package. Meanwhile the package for the 84km section connecting Annaba with the Tunisian border via the El-Tarf province is being allocated to two national groupings. Three firms are carrying out necessary repairs to secti