Infra companies keen on Africa

The country's infrastructure companies are increasingly taking up projects in Africa to offset the impact of slowdown in domestic orders because of delayed decision-making by the government, hurdles in land acquisition and environmental clearances.

Robust order prospects in the areas of roads, urban infrastructure, mining and afforda­ble housing, coupled with lower entry barriers in the African region are making the continent attractive for Indian co­mpanies, business executives said. While most Indian companies have concentrated on developing roads in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon and Tanzania, opportunities could spill over to 24 countries of the total 54 nations in the African continent as these 24 nations together account for 85 per cent of the gross domestic product, population and infrastructure grants of Sub-Saharan Africa.