Infrastructure spending critical in the current economic environment – In the current domestic growth environment, while the private business capex is likely to suffer, we believe that the government’s effort to push infrastructure spending will be critical. Within the infrastructure segments, we believe the roads spending is the most important considering its strong multiplier effect.
Of the total 33,097km planned, only 10,858km had been completed as of February 2009. About 50% of roads tenders have yet to be awarded.
The progress on road development is likely to be tardy until the end of 2009. The new cabinet, which should be in place by June 2009, will need to spearhead this spending and, if need be, take the financial risk on its own balance sheet.