In the years ahead, the infrastructure sector has the potential to generate significant economic and social benefits world-wide. Creating and maintaining a high level of quality in infrastructure services is a key enabling factor in both developed and less developed countries. However, the future development of the infrastructure sector faces serious economic, financial, regulatory, legal and institutional challenges that require urgent policy attention both at national and international levels.

While a number of recent reports from national and international authorities stress the growing need for more investment in the creation, rehabilitation and maintenance of (tangible) infrastructure in both OECD and non-OECD countries, it is not  clear how these investments  will be financed in the coming two to three decades. Current levels of investment in infrastructure look insufficient to cope with the situation .

Based on a wide-ranging consultation with infrastructure experts and decision makers carried out in 2004, a dedicated OECD Futures Project on Global Infrastructure Needs: Prospects and Implications for Public and Private Actors was launched by the OECD IFP. The main purpose is to bring together experts from the public and private sectors to take stock of the long-term opportunities and challenges facing infrastructures, and propose a set of policy recommendations for OECD Governments.

The Project covers the following sectors: transport, electricity, and communications (including information infrastructure).  Water will be included in Phase 1 to identify future needs and long-term infrastructure developments. Particular attention will also be paid to trans-national infrastructures in the context of globalisation and increasing interaction among countries. In terms of geographic coverage, the Project will focus essentially on OECD countries. A final report will be published in 2007, while an interim publication will be made available in 2006.