Agenda

India's Infrastructure industry has been weathering a storm in the last months, with no clear sign of when things will return to business-as-usual. The pandemic has also ignited a debate on how long the infrastructure downturn will last and government’s efforts regarding the same. The session will aim to search answers to the many questions and challenges that have arisen in regard to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both existing and new infrastructure projects.

K. Rajaraman, Additional Secretary, Government, Investment, IER & Admin. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance

16:20 – 16:35

COVID-19 is a once in a lifetime threat to people across the planet. Its impact and repercussions will be felt by everyone changing the way the world works and lives. The discussion among key stakeholders and facilitators will bring perspectives on successes and failures, key learnings and recommendations and the way forward for infrastructure delivery in the post COVID world:

• Financial sustainability is paramount.
• Asset Monetization Strategies.
• Technology to transform infrastructure service delivery.
• Revisiting the new normal in pricing and returns expectations.
• Strengthened deal pipeline for diversified portfolios to drive the market

Featured Speakers:

Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA India
S. V. Desai, Whole-time Director & Sr. Executive Vice President (Civil Infrastructure) & Board Member, L&T
Sudhendu J. Sinha, Adviser, Infrastructure Connectivity – Transport and Electric Mobility, NITI Aayog
Pushkar Kulkarni, Senior Principal - Infrastructure, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)
Yoshiki Sasaki, Chief Executive Officer, Japan Strategic Capital, Japan

Panel Chair:

Himangshu Watts, Columnist & Former Senior Editor, Energy and Infrastructure, The Economic Times

India is transitioning from a reformative, disruptive phase to a new normal, a new order. The Infra landscape and progress has changed in the last few months. The escalation of COVID-19 pandemic is expected to impact the Indian economy severely in the short to medium term. One of the key sectors likely to be affected is infrastructure, given its importance in supporting the overall growth and development of India’s economy. The session will dig into the key questions, mistakes made, lessons learnt and Preparations for future to revive the sector & ensure that the economic engine of construction continues to drive India's growth:

• What have been the recent successes in infrastructure development?
• What are the challenges in the way of faster development?
• What has been the impact of Covid-19 on projects & what next?
• What steps are being taken or are under consideration?
• What can the industry expect going forward?

Isabel Chatterton, Asia Pacific Industry Director for Natural Resources and Infrastructure, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Special Address: Future of Infrastructure Financing – Pandemic & Beyond!

P.R. Jaishankar, Managing Director, IIFCL