Macao to host infrastructure investment forum

The 9th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum will take place on June 7 and 8 in Macao, with more than 1,700 officials and representatives attending the event, organizers said on Friday.

The China International Contractors Association and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute will host the forum, which has the theme "Fostering New Drivers of Development to Boost Infrastructure Construction and Connectivity".

CICA Chairman Fang Qiuchen said as of April 25, more than 1,700 delegates registered to attend this year's event, including ministerial officials, financial institution executives and business leaders.

This year's forum will, for the first time, hold dialogues with senior executives from multinational financial institutions like the World Bank, the Asian Investment Bank and the Asian Development Bank, in order to discuss efficient ways to mobilize private capital to invest in infrastructure, according to Fang.

Attracting private capital investment is one of the major ways to close the huge funding gap in international infrastructure construction, Fang said.

The event also focuses on exploring how to leverage digital transformation and technological innovation to add fuel to the infrastructure industry, he added.

IIICF serves as an important platform to exchange strategic insights, explore opportunities and seek cooperation in promoting infrastructure cooperation. Its establishment was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in 2010.

Fang said the ninth IIICF will probe ways to boost new drivers of infrastructure development and international cooperation through innovation, technological changes and mode transformation, to promote infrastructure construction and connectivity among Belt and Road countries and regions.

The Belt and Road Infrastructure Development Index and The Report on the Belt and Road Infrastructure development Index for 2018 will be released during the summit.

The fourth China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Infrastructure Cooperation Forum will open at the same time.