• David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times

• Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore

• Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing Director, World Bank Group
  
  Interviewed by David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times

Finance Ministers and leading investors and advisors from the private sector discuss the wave of new infrastructure projects being planned and the potential for funding in the current uncertain global economic and financial environment. What will be the most effective channels for financing? To what extent will banks’ project lending be affected by liquidity constraints, Basel III and other regulatory reforms? Can capital markets fill the gap?

• Cesar Purisima, Secretary of Finance, Philippines
• Areepong Bhoocha-Oom, Premanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Thailand
• Mark Rathbone, Asia Pacific Leader, Capital Projects & Infrastructure, PwC
• John Walker, Head of Infrastructure Asia, Macquarie Capital
• Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, Managing Director, YTL Group

Moderator: David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times

With banks' ability to lend constrained by macroeconomic and regulatory developments, there is a need to diversify funding sources for infrastructure projects in emerging economies. Alternatives on the debt side could include project bonds and other capital market solutions, for which there have been precedents in developed economies. On the equity side, increased funding will depend on providing better rates of return and managing investors’ risk perceptions. Are projects sufficiently viable commercially to attract investment? What needs to occur for capital markets in emerging economies to become effective enough to fill the gap? Are there ways to increase banks’ ability to lend to infrastructure projects, for example by facilitating banks’ recycling of capital?

•  Hans-Martin Verts, Head of Infrastructure Asia, APG Asset Management
• Ian Greer, Managing Director and Analytical Manager, Infrastructure Ratings Asia-Pacific, Standard & Poor's
• Noburu Kato, General Manager and Head, Investment Banking Department, Asia, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
• Clive Kerner, CEO, Clifford Capital
• Christopher Lee, Founder and Managing Partner, Highstar Capital
  
  Moderator: Sergio Pimenta, Director, East Asia and the Pacific, IFC

As efforts to fill the financing gap intensify, greater attention is being placed on ways to lower costs and improve output along the infrastructure value chain. Are the funds obtained being used as effectively as possible? Is the project the correct solution to the problem it is seeking to address? Has it been structured in a way that ensures smooth financing, rapid implementation, deep economies of scale and maximum monetisation? Are private-sector contractors being brought into the discussion early enough to ensure that the projects they are bidding for are designed optimally? Is there sufficient data to evaluate projects accurately? How are contractors managing the various risks involved? Leading infrastructure firms, investors, advisors and policy-makers debate the challenges around implementation of infrastructure in emerging markets.

• Cosette Canilao, executive Director,PPP Center Phiippines
• James Harris, Managing Partner, Hogan Lovells
• Deng Xuesong, General Manager, China Railway 11th Bureau Group (Singapore)
• Vijay Pattabhiraman, CIO, Asia Infrastructure, JP Morgan Asset Management
• Arun Sen, CEO, Lanco Power International
  
  Moderator: Kevin Lu, Director, Asia Pacific, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

Senior representatives of government, multilateral agencies and the financial sector discuss the progress of initiatives at the global and regional levels to boost infrastructure development in emerging economies. What is being done to make public-private partnerships more effective on the ground? How can projects become more viable for private and institutional capital? In what ways can the role of multilateral and development agencies be optimised as new financing solutions are considered? 

• Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing Director, World Bank Group
• Sergey Storchak, Deputy Finance Minister, Russia
• Izumi Kobayashi, Executive Vice President, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
• Anita George, Regional Industry Director, Asia Infrastructure and Natural Resources, IFC
• Patrick Mispagel, Associate Managing Director, Project Infrastructure Finance Group, Moody’s Investors Service
  
  Moderator: David Pilling, Asia Editor, Financial Times