Infrastructure Today India Opportunity 2012

The conference presented a unique forum for leaders of India and Canada to collaborate and capitalise on the opportunities available in Indian infrastructure.Date: May 11, 2012Venue: Toronto, CanadaOrganiser: Asprire International GroupAccording to Secretary for Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, AK Upadhyay, India’s highway network constitutes less than 2 per cent of its roads – the second largest network in the world. Highway-building in India is the world’s lar­gest activity under PPP. Under the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has completed about 16,000 km of National (interstate) highways, while another 10,000 km is currently underway. Seven phases of the NHDP will cover around 48,750 km of net roads. The ministry is also committed to developing 24,750 km of national and 18,000 km of state highways with the minimum two-lane standards.Bright prospectsThese figures indicate the fast growth returns that India offers, as the staggering volumes and big-ticket projects encourage foreign investors’ interest in the country’s infrastructure sectors. International companies have much to vie for in the Indian infrastructure pie, either through supplying technology, investing through pension funds or providing valuable project management skills and supervision to over 250 ongoing infrastructure projects under PPP, EPC or plain contract mode.To discuss these key issues and evolve specific solutions for the Canadian inves­tors and exporters, ASPIRE International Group, the international arm of ASAPP Media – a 15-year-old multinational B2B media information group – in association with the Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC), organised the ‘Infrastructure Today India Opportunity Conference’, at the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, on May 11, 2012. The one-day conference deli-berated over contemporary infrastructure environment in India, especially showcasing opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs and project management firms. The conference, attended by more than 100 delegates and hosting over 20 speakers, included an official Indian delegation led by Upadhyay. Other attendees included senior representatives from Essar Steel, IDFC Private Equity, Morgan Stanley, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, SBI Capital Markets, IL&FS, etc. They were accompanied by leading Canadian companies and inves­tors including Canada Pension Plan, Cleantech Group, Hydro One Networks, ReichmannHauer Capital Partners, KPMG and Export Development Canada.DelegatespeakPratap Vijay Padode, President, ASPIRE International Group, and Editor-in-Chief, Infrastructure Today, said, “Despite the gloomy picture that the media has been recently portraying about the slowdown in India’s economy, the infrastructure sectors have a bright fut-ure, and this is the right time for investors to enter India. Our conference sharp-focused that aspect of India that helped de-obfuscate the scope and challenges for investors and others.”Rana Sarkar, President & CEO, Canada-India Business Council, said, “From engineering expertise, design and implementation, along with intelligent transport systems, green energy and significant investment opportunities for pension funds and other financial firms, Canada is well positioned to grow alongside India – for which we start now and work collectively.”The growth storyThe government’s latest five-year plan (FYP) projects more than $1 trillion in infrastructure spending, including 50 per cent from the private sector.India has already met the previous FYP, which saw an investment of more than $500 billion, with the private sector contributing 37 per cent.India’s construction sector is expected to grow between 2009 and 2013 by 35 per cent.India’s power sector added over 12,000 MW in generation capacity last year – the highest single year figure ever! Wind solar energy is becoming a top priority with coal imports skyrocketing 81 per cent.In March, a consortium between ICICI Bank and Citigroup set up a $2 billion infrastructure debt fund – the first of its kind to facilitate long-term financing by local and foreign financial institutions.