April, 20, 2010

The project finance industry in the Middle East has had its fair share of problems over the last year – deal volumes have shrunk, projects have stalled and lending restrictions meant capital was hard to come by.But the Gulf remains a key player in this sector – projects managed to raise nearly $15bn in 2009, according to data from Dealogic. This year, however, experts are predicting volumes could swell to $30bn, and there are now signs that jobs are emerging once again.

While property suffered markedly in the region, essential infrastructure like roads, power, sewerage and schools as well as industrial projects went ahead, according to analysis by the FT.“These are the essential building blocks of healthy economies,” Jonathan Robinson, regional head of project finance at HSBC told the newspaper. “The market has slowed significantly from the heated pace of 2006-08, but this is still a huge market, and is likely to soon re-emerge as the world’s largest project finance market."

.

.