Investment in infrastructure has long been recognised as an important mechanism for fostering economic growth and development. With an estimated $130 billion annual deficit in infrastructure investment, Africa is in dire need of such investment. However, despite the clear socio-economic benefits, there is a lack of institutional investment in infrastructure. This highlights the need for a better understanding of the characteristics of infrastructure as an asset class in Africa and for institutional investors to identify any hindrances – be they technical, regulatory or commercial – to institutional investment in infrastructure. The aim of this paper is to investigate the establishment of infrastructure as an asset class in Africa.
Authors: Gideon Oberholzer, Joel Barnor, Malcolm Pautz, Chelsea Markowitz and Neuma Grobbelaar