Building international bridges

In addition to domestic projects, Indian investors are eyeing infrastructure investments abroad. Candice Dubane and Sesame Mosweu at Collins Newman & Co in Botswana highlight one such opportunity

Botswana’s economy has grown significantly in the past few years. Much of this has stemmed from the country’s attractive and open legislative and regulatory environment, political stability and transparent administration.

Through the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, the government of Botswana recently established a project management office to monitor and control all government infrastructure projects with a view to improving regulation and service delivery.

Two main routes are available to finance projects. The first is debt financing, whereby large international and domestic banks, as well as multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, provide funding for projects from a balance sheet lending perspective. This type of financing can be used by the government, para-state organizations or private entities that want to develop, construct or renovate a structure.

Candice Dubane and Sesame Mosweu are associates at Collins Newman & Co in Gabarone, Botswana. The firm services lenders and investors both in Botswana and abroad.