Infrastructure investment gaps impose fundamental impediments on sustainable economic growth and social development across developing countries in the APEC region. With real GDP increasing from 16 trillion USD in 1989 to 20 trillion USD in 2015, the region has outperformed global growth generating 59% of worldwide GDP and 50% of global trade (APEC, 2017). The 21 APEC economies represent half of the world’s population building a young and dynamic workforce and creating a large demand for infrastructure.

Developing countries have experienced growing structural weaknesses over the last decade. COVID-19 and climate change have further aggravated these, worsening poverty and inequality, and starkly exposing the interdependence between people, the planet, and the economy. This report charts out the Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development (GRID) approach, which departs from previous development strategies by promoting economic growth that goes hand in hand with environmental goals and social inclusion.

Disruptive technologies present extraordinary opportunities for progress, with cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient infrastructure services. These opportunities should be seized and celebrated. However, changes from the status quo create pain points that must be carefully managed, in particular when long-term PPP contracts are structured based on a financial model on which financing relies. Unraveling such commitments has proven contentious and difficult.

The increasing number of global disruption raises many questions;