Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether he is taking steps to prioritise infrastructure investment in (a) Asia and (b) South America; and if he will make a statement.

Supporting infrastructure investment in Asia is a priority. DFID funds bilateral projects in six countries in Asia, for example the £265 million Pakistan Corridors Programme, the £46 million Accelerating Investment and Infrastructure in Nepal. The CDC and the predominantly UK financed Private Infrastructure Group also invest in Asia. In addition, in both Asia and South America the UK’s membership of the four multilateral developments working in these regions enables a substantial flow of infrastructure projects.

To accelerate progress further I established an Infrastructure Commission which reported earlier this month (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-development-infrastructure-commission-report). In response, DFID will scope and design a new Project Development Facility and will explore detailed options for expanding the use of guarantees and new structures to mobilise institutional investment into sustainable, resilient infrastructure.