By Dr. Geert Roovers – Infrastructure management is becoming more and more complex. Uncertainties rise, policy fields get intertwined, budgets are under pressure and demands from politicians, stakeholders and users need constant attention. In this climate asset management is rising in public management, and seems to be an answer to every new challenge. But what are the consequences of this[…]
By Arjan Hijdra – The universal framing of infrastructure is that these structures are crucial for a prosperous society. Politicians and decision-makers worldwide stress the socio-economic importance. But if we dig a bit deeper, it is not that easy to ensure this potential is realized. When developing a road, railroad, port basin and so on, there are numerous variables which[…]
By Arjan Hijdra – Before I got to write this first sentence, I have been switching the words seriously and unserious multiple times. I’m not sure whether the sequence is now exactly right; perhaps I will switch them once more. What I’d like to say about it, is that infrastructure is seriously important. And that is not only because it[…]
May 16th, 2015 – India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is boosting investment in next-generation infrastructure. This announcement comes as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on an official visit to China. A Bloomberg article reports that India is committed to spending US$1 trillion to realize “China-like” infrastructure. The country is looking for innovative ways to fund this massive[…]
AMSTERDAM, March 28 — The Netherlands intends to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Prime Minister Mark Rutte said today, becoming the latest US ally to seek membership in the China-led institution despite Washington’s misgivings. Rutte announced the decision on his official Facebook page during a visit to China and after a meeting with President Xi Jinping. “There is[…]
In November 2014 the G20 world leaders agreed on an action plan to raise global growth and to deliver better living standards and quality jobs for people across the world. Infrastructure investment is positioned as the key component to achieve these goals. In the communique concluding the Brisbane Summit at 15-16 November 2014 this is expressed as follows: ‘Raising global[…]
