Skip to main content

Business Monitor revises forecast on Russia’s infrastructure sector

Business Monitor’ latest report on Russia’s infrastructure sector has considerably revised down their construction industry forecast for the country in 2014 in light of recently published lacklustre official data. With a contraction of 1.25 per cent in the first nine months of 2013, they now forecast only moderate growth in the industry of 1.5 per cent for 2014. Although they had anticipated significant growth in the industry as a result of the large investments made for the Winter Olympic Games, this s
February 14, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Business Monitor’ latest report on Russia’s infrastructure sector has considerably revised down their construction industry forecast for the country in 2014 in light of recently published lacklustre official data. With a contraction of 1.25 per cent in the first nine months of 2013, they now forecast only moderate growth in the industry of 1.5 per cent for 2014.

Although they had anticipated significant growth in the industry as a result of the large investments made for the Winter Olympic Games, this seems to have failed to materialise. In addition, private investment has continued to weaken as a result of endemic corruption, inefficient bureaucracy and lack of investor guarantees. This poor business environment is exacerbated by stubbornly high inflation and slow economic growth.
 
Business Monitor’s country risk team forecasts a slowdown in the Russian GDP, which should arrive at 2.0 per cent in 2013, down from 3.4 per cent in 2012, with a slight acceleration to 2.5 per cent expected in 2014.
 
Infrastructure associated with the export of commodities (pipelines, ports and transport infrastructure – to support oil and gas output east and west of the Urals) has a high growth potential - as development is predicated on growth in the natural resources sector. These projects have been prioritised by the government.

In November 2013, Avtodor shortlisted four teams to bid for the M-11 highway. The four teams are Corsan-Corviam Construccion and consortia Stolichniy Tract OJSC, Roads Construction Corporation and Two Capitals Highway. The concession agreement involves financing, constructing and operating the 543km-684 kilometre section of the toll road.
 
In January 2014 Lithuania-based company Avia Solutions Group and Russia's state-owned company Rostec signed a cooperation agreement to develop and management a new Moscow airport with a capacity of 12 million passengers per year. The new Russian airport, dubbed Ramenskoye International Airport, is designed to cater for low-cost airlines - a niche industry that has experienced slow growth in Russia as a result of insufficient infrastructure.
 
Business Monitor maintains its view that political risk is the main element that can ultimately curtail growth as public policy remains opaque, convoluted and subject to frequent change. The planned privatisation scheme remains on the agenda; yet, on the back of heavy state involvement and strong vested interests, they believe foreign enthusiasm to be muted.

Related Content

  • US favours express buses are for intercity travel
    November 26, 2013
    David Crawford records an upsurge in ground travel. Express buses are powering ahead of air and rail as the US’ most-favoured form of intercity travel and major operators are investing in passenger-attracting and retaining technologies. At the same time ‘kayak’-style price comparison websites are emerging to widen rider choice. Modelled on airline industry search engines that find cheap flight deals by comparing carriers’ offers, these new websites aim to fill the same gap for a ground-travel equivalent
  • Colombia kicks off second wave of 4G highway plan
    December 16, 2014
    Colombia has published the pre-bid documents for the first concession under the second wave of the country's US$25 billion 4G highway plan, the 202 kilometre Puerta de Hierro-Palmar de Varela highway. Located in northern Colombia, the highway runs through the departments of Sucre, Atlántico and Bolívar. The project entails US$187 million improvement works on 175 kilometres, with construction estimated to take three years, said vice president Germán Vargas Lleras. The works are to be followed by a main
  • Moscow wins international transport award for tackling traffic gridlock
    May 19, 2016
    The city of Moscow has been awarded the International Transport Forum (ITF) 2016 Transport Achievement Award for its exemplary approach to improving traffic conditions in the Russian capital. Following twenty years of almost uncontrolled development of urban traffic, Moscow introduced a rigorous and comprehensive set of policies to address the gridlock on its streets. These included paid car parking, development of public transport, ticketing, car sharing and taxi reform, development of cycling and envi
  • European EV charging infrastructure market set to boom
    May 16, 2012
    Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained significant attention over the last few years from various European governments as they look to promote the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. According to new analysis from Frost & Sullivan, contained in 'Strategic Analysis of the European EV Charging Station Infrastructure' there are strong indicators that the EV market will grow from less than 10,000 public charging points in 2010 to close to two million public charging points by 2017. Some three per cent of thi