ADB to Invest in Asia’s Water Infrastructure

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to invest $20m in a private equity fund that will be used to support the development of Asia’s water infrastructure.

The fund will be owned by a subsidiary of the AmInvestment Group, which aims to invest in municipal, industrial and rural water and wastewater treatment plants, as well as water rehabilitation.

About 70% of the fund’s portfolio will be in China and the remaining in South East Asia.

ADB expects the investment to encourage more private investments in the development of the region’s mainstream water sector.

According to ADB’s estimate, half a billion people in Asia lack access to potable water, 1.8 billion lack sanitation and an investment of $8bn is required over the next decade for safe drinking water.