New Delhi: IFC, a World Bank body, today established an infrastructure advisery facility to help the South Asia region develop bankable infrastructure projects, largely through public-private partnerships.

It will work closely with government agencies at the national, state and municipal levels to help create PPP model in newer sub-sectors and increase access to infrastructure services across the South Asia region, IFC said in a release.

The new facility will begin operations with an initial pool of US $ 20 million, of which IFC's contribution is US $ 5 million.

The facility can generate such projects with the benefit of IFC's experience in infrastructure, its ability to balance investor requirements with public policy considerations, and its reputation for transparency, said India's representative on the institution's Board Dhanendra Kumar.

Despite a multiplicity of public and private initiatives, compared to other emerging markets, South Asian countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka seem to be still falling behind other emerging markets in terms of investment, he noted.

Government of India has empanelled IFC as transaction adviser for public private partnership transactions in the country.
Source : PTI