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Billion-Dollar Investments in Development Projects in Turkey

5 Development Projects in TurkeyTurkey, the country that straddles the line between Asia and Europe, has been investing billions of dollars to improve its infrastructure. There are five development projects in Turkey that focus on improving its transportation, energy and healthcare systems.

The Istanbul New Airport
The first of these development projects is the construction of Turkey’s third international airport; its current name is the Istanbul New Airport. When completed, this airport will be the largest international airport in the world. As mentioned, since Turkey is a bridge between Asia and Europe, its airports receive a lot of traffic. In 2018, by the airport’s completion, it will have already provided business to 150 million people. This extensive project, with a projected cost of $11.3 billion, will not only hold 500 airplanes and rail-connected terminals but also provide the best security available. Security is a top concern, especially after the Atatürk Airport terrorist attack in 2016 that killed 40 and injured 250 more.

Three-Story Grand Istanbul Tunnel Project
Turkey was not satisfied with developing one record-breaking construction project, so they are also working on a second. The Three-Story Grand Istanbul Tunnel Project is a three-story subsea tunnel, consisting of two highways above and below a railway that will ride in the middle. This 6.5 kilometer tunnel will connect the two ends of Istanbul and will reduce travel times between Hasdal and Çamlık by about 14 minutes. This tunnel system is expected to cost $3.5 billion after completion, which is a modest cost for a transportation system that will service 6.5 million travelers a day.

Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project
The project to build the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project began in March 2015, yet the project is still ongoing. The project is to develop a pipeline that will send natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe and Turkey. 10 billion cubic meters of gas will be sent to Europe, and another 6 billion cubic meters will be sent to Turkey starting in 2018. This project will cost $11.7 billion and will provide 15,000 jobs.

Nuclear Power Plants
Along with receiving gas power, Turkey will also invest in developing its own nuclear power after having plans for one since 1970. The first of these plants, Akkuyu 1, will begin construction in 2018 and will begin operation in 2023. This $20 billion dollar plant will produce 1,200 megawatt reactors and will be the first of four reactors built by Rosatom. This is an important investment for Turkey since it spends $50 billion annually on importing energy, and this first plant will provide 5 percent of the country’s energy.

Etlik Integrated Healthcare Campus
The last of these five development projects in Turkey is the Etlik Integrated Healthcare Campus, which will be one of the world’s largest hospital campuses at more than one million square meters. This hospital will offer general care, as well as specialty units for neurological sciences, cardiovascular surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics and many more. These units are also separated into designated areas for diagnosis and treatment, with 3,577 beds for patients. The construction of this center will cost $1.3 billion, take three and a half years to construct, and will provide a 24-year operating term after completion.

Turkey is investing billions upon billions of dollars to ensure a successful and healthy environment for its people. By providing support for these five development projects in Turkey, the government is increasing its citizens’ standard of living with the best technology, convenience and security.

– Scott Kesselring

Photo: Flickr

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Five Development Projects in Costa Rica

Development Projects in Costa RicaCosta Rica has long been a global leader due to its environmental accomplishments and is the only country in the world that has reversed deforestation. This upper-middle-income country is a developmental success in many ways and still has work to be done. Here is a look at five development projects in Costa Rica.

  1. The city of Limon is undergoing a large project which aims to modernize the port city. The Integrated Infrastructure Project aims to improve the protection and management of the cultural and natural heritage of the city. It is also working to increase access to the sewage system in order to reduce urban flooding as well as foster a more credible local government. From a business perspective, this plan hopes to create new employment opportunities and to support port modernization in order to improve access to the Limon and Moin port terminals.
  2. As mentioned earlier, Costa Rica is a global leader in environmental programs. One program with environmental impacts is the Carbon Sequestration in Small Farms which aims to reduce over 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions by the end of 2017. This would be done by reforesting 4,140 hectares of land in Costa Rica over a period of three years. This project will also create additional ecological, wildlife and landscape diversity in the project area.
  3. The Umbrella Project is another project to help reduce carbon emissions. This would be done by substituting electricity produced by thermal plants with electricity from renewable sources. This is called the Umbrella Project because it is essentially serving as an umbrella to facilitate the implementation of other smaller projects in the country.
  4. Beginning in January 2018, Costa Rica is set to begin construction and expansion of a key highway. This highway, Ruta 32, connects the provinces of Limon and San Jose. This project will also add 16 miles of bike lanes, 23 pedestrian bridges, 176 bus stops and an access road to the port city of Moin.
  5. The last of the five development projects in Costa Rica deals with the environment. The Tourism Institute of Costa Rica will be designating $3 million over the course of three years in order to enhance services in Protected Wild Areas in order to provide an unforgettable experience to visitors.

– Lorial Roballo

Photo: Pixabay

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The Success of Humanitarian Aid to India

Humanitarian Aid to India
With up to 1.3 billion citizens within an area of 3.1 million km, the country of India is soon to become the most populated country in the world. With that many people, proper living conditions in the country have decreased and inequality has increased. More than half of the Indian population lives below the poverty line. Along with this problem are tied many more. The lack of economic stability within the country has affected all branches of society. A lack of proper education, poor access to sanitation and social inequality are all problems that have increased over the past few decades. The U.N., UNICEF, Intermón Oxfam, Humanitarian Aid international and many more nonprofit organizations have taken action by sending humanitarian aid to India.

Christ for India has taken a prominent step forward by working with humanitarian ministers across India. Along with medical ministers, Christ for India has helped build houses for children living in poverty. Medical camps have also been built around villages in the country in order to provide medical care for those in need. By offering sewing, electrical repairs and technological courses, humanitarian aid in India also offers citizens opportunities for a better life.

The Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust is an organization that combines humanitarian aid to India with public support in that same country and many more. The organization helps to address issues generally not tackled by bigger humanitarian aid organizations. The success of the organization has lead to an increase of performed surgeries and the creation of more hospitals in India.

Natural disasters are also a big cause of poverty in India. During this year’s summer, up to 41 million citizens were affected by flooding. The U.N.’s humanitarian agencies rapidly took action in order to provide food, clean water, shelter and medical attention to those affected by the floods.

The success of humanitarian aid to India is undeniable. Many issues have been tackled by many organizations, providing better living conditions for citizens in the country. Not only has India received aid but it has also increased the amount of international aid and assistance it provides to other countries.

India, despite its poverty levels, has the fourth largest economy in the world. This has helped the country in regards to humanitarian aid. Thanks to its economy, India has been able to provide help to Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and others, and has been able to stand out in regards to development assistance.

– Paula Gibson
Photo: Flickr

Infrastructure in Comoros Leads to Economic Struggle

Infrastructure in ComorosComoros is an archipelago of islands in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Eastern Africa and home to a population of about 734,900 people. It is a nation that has struggled with political instability and poverty despite its picturesque beaches and natural beauty. The issues of poverty can be partially attributed to the poor state of infrastructure in Comoros.

In a worldwide comparison, Comoros ranked 198th, theoretically attributing 1.11 meters of infrastructure for each of the estimated 790,000 inhabitants currently residing in the country. Transport systems are particularly limited in Comoros, with only 673 km of the total 880 km of roads having been paved. Additionally, there are no railway systems of any nature available to its citizens.

The economy and infrastructure have been tied to each other for many years. This has been demonstrated in the fact that the weak infrastructure in Comoros and the business climate have severely hampered economic activity. It is currently ranked 153rd out of 190 countries in the World Banks’ most recent report, dropping one place since the previous assessment.

With these apparent issues in the infrastructure and economy of Comoros, there must be improvements made to these aspects of the country. Some work that has already been undertaken has come in the form of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). These aim to create long-term contracts between a private party and a government entity, in which a public asset or service is provided, and bear all risk and management responsibilities.

One of these projects was established in 1998, called Comorienne de d’eau et de l’electricite (CEE), but it was cancelled soon after. There was an additional project in 2003, Mutsamudu Port, which received $500,000 in funding.

Other programs include the Infrastructure, Water, and Environment Project for the Comoros, which was established to support the objective of improving living conditions and stimulating economic growth. It aims to do this, while also protecting the environment, through investments to the basic infrastructure in Comoros.

The component of transport to the program is extremely important, as it assists Comoros with improving road maintenance, safety and management. Management improvements are achieved through three subcomponents: national and regional roads periodic maintenance, roads safety and institutional strengthening.

These subcomponents will rehabilitate earthworks, including pothole repair, local reinforcement, resurfacing and resealing. They will also maintain and repair road shoulders, finance the installation of traffic signals and strengthen the capacity of the executing agency, among other things.

The urban water supply is another component of importance that will rehabilitate and extend the urban water infrastructure. This will support technical assistance to strengthen the management and operation of urban water utilities.

With more efforts like these, improvements to the infrastructure in Comoros can make the fight against poverty achievable.

– Drew Fox

Photo: Flickr

Infrastructure in Peru: Benefitting its Entire Population

infrastructure in peruIn July 2017, George Mallett from The Market Mogul put it simply: “Peru is at a juncture.” The development of infrastructure in Peru has had a mixed record. The country was devastated by floods in early 2017, leaving many in poor living conditions. However, the country has invested billions in its transport infrastructure that only affects some of the population and is financed by debt. It is important that Peru spend and build in ways that benefit the whole population.

In 2016, prior to the floods, the government of Peru pledged $33 billion toward infrastructure projects. The money was pledged to construct highways, airports and a port. Local governments would also be involved in the projects, which was seen as a great way to involve communities. The President intended to extend potable and sewerage water services to 100 percent of the population over the next five years.

Since the floods, the country’s government has been working on projects to rebuild, as well as improve, the infrastructure to prepare for future disasters. Water supply is an important issue that the government wants to make sure is accessible to its entire population. There are plans to build reservoirs in the mountains.

Its first priority is rebuilding towns and communities, then working on the infrastructure in Peru for future disasters. The government also wants to control where people settle so that people are living in areas that are reachable and have adequate living conditions and resources.

Since Peru wants to continue growing its economy and improve its reputation in Latin America and the world, it must improve its infrastructure for the entire population. As such, it is important to make sure that many people in Peru will benefit from these projects.

The mining and commodity industry in Peru is growing very quickly, so organizations, like The Nature Conservancy, are focused on minimizing the impact of these industries on the environment and the surrounding communities.

The Nature Conservancy recognizes this “boom” as a great opportunity for the country, but wants to make sure that the environment is not affected. It is pushing for zero environmental impacts as well as the development of hydropower plants. It also focuses on informing Indigenous communities about the social and ecological effects the mining industry can have. Infrastructure in Peru must reflect and react to these implications.

At the moment, Peru is at a crossroads: it must rebuild its poorer infrastructure while allowing for economic growth through its mining and commodity industries. The U.N. has pushed for the country to implement multi-hazard warning systems and educate citizens about the environmental risks of these endeavors.

In short, Peru must continue to improve its infrastructure and garner international support for its initiatives. The steady improvements to infrastructure in Peru will have lasting, positive effects on its population.

– Emilia Beuger

Photo: Flickr

Infrastructure in Fiji Shows Growth and Development

Infrastructure in Fiji
Development of infrastructure is a key factor to establish a growing state. The infrastructure in Fiji benefits from a thriving tourism sector that energizes the islands. Roads, electricity, water supply, ports and the government are showing growth in a positive manner.

Transportation is a key component in the infrastructure of a state. In Fiji, the road system connects all town and cities and ferry rides offer water transportation. There are 25 local airports and two international airports serving as a trans-Pacific air traffic zone from the main island, Viti Levu. Ensuring access to transportation is necessary for the tourism industry in Fiji.

The developments also benefit access to clean water among the islands and electricity to most areas in Fiji.

Eighty percent of Fiji’s electricity comes from hydroelectric generation and 20 percent comes from imported fossil fuels. Electricity is coordinated by Fiji Electricity Authority, but a high demand, as a result of growth, has prompted other electric producers to partake in this industry.

Telecommunications is another avenue seeing great development. Full inter-island and international telephone access, as well as cable links and satellite access, are signs of growth. The deregulation and privatization of telecommunications have left an open market to internet providers. A Fijian-British joint venture gained an investment of $7.1 million in cellular telephone networks.

Infrastructure in Fiji is flourishing and has had large impacts on human rights and liberties as a result of government reforms. November 2014 marked the end of nearly eight years of military rule and the beginning of a free and fair democracy. Prime Minister Bainimarama promised to end corruption, promote economic growth and ease racial and religious tensions. While he is said to rule with a “heavy-hand,” voter turnout is up to 84 percent and reserved seats and special privileges for ethnic or religious groups in parliament are denied. The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) is also investigating many cases of corruption and working for better transparency within the government.

Unfortunately, FICAC lacks adequate resources to perform the number of investigations needed and some legislations are viewed as rushed, without due process. However, the Parliament is trying to be more transparent with live broadcasts of sessions, meeting notes and budgets posted for the public to see. The democracy of Fiji is taking action to acknowledge the Fijians.

The development experienced by Fiji is prompting investors to see it as an investment opportunity. The development allows for the people to experience more advantages such as freedom of religion and academy. Hinduism is openly recognized and no attacks on temples have occurred recently. Education can be sought without religious or ethnic bias, but limited resources lower the quality of institutions. Growth is evident within Fiji, allowing for further industries to emerge and prosper within the economy.

International trade was also restored with the emergence of democracy. China is a main trade partner, engaging in international trade and also contributing key foreign aid. The World Bank, European Union and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have invested in the water, water waste, roads and transportation sectors since Fiji’s return to democracy.

As a developing nation, the growth of infrastructure in Fiji has shown great promise for foreign investment and industries. This progress has benefited the locals that occupy the islands and tourists who visit. It has contributed to improving the overall quality of life within Fiji.

– Bronti DeRoche

Photo: Flickr

Finding a New Way Forward: Infrastructure in Mexico

Finding a New Way Forward: Infrastructure in MexicoUnderdeveloped educational and economic infrastructure in Mexico cultivates conditions where many turn to crime as a means of survival, supplying and staffing the drug cartels ravaging the country and funneling narcotics into the U.S.

In Mexico, one in four youths between the ages of 15 and 24 is neither employed nor enrolled in school. These “ninis” (“ni estudian ni trabajan—[those who] neither study nor work”) represent a potential labor pool of seven and a half million people for the cartels.

The “nini” phenomenon is partly fueled by a lack of accountability in the education infrastructure in Mexico. Mexican universities are not required to report data which would allow for ranking or evaluation of their educational effectiveness, effectively killing accountability and incentives to ensure that curricula adequately prepare students for the modern workforce.

Underdeveloped agricultural infrastructure in Mexico also contributes to the number of narcotics available for the cartels to traffic. Antonio Mazzitelli of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime states that “it is not drug production that generates underdevelopment[,] it is the lack of development that generates the opium cultivation.” In this, he agrees with the findings of the Open Society Foundation, which found that underdevelopment of agricultural infrastructure, in conjunction with other development factors, is common among regions where drug cultivation is high.

The Mexican government, recognizing these issues, is working to increase investment in infrastructure across the country. The Peña administration’s current National Infrastructure Plan is slated to inject nearly 7.75 trillion pesos (about $400 billion) into development, especially in transportation and communications infrastructure in Mexico.

Such projects promise to knit the country closer together and bring more opportunities to both rural areas and “ninis” nationwide. The U.S. is working to complement these efforts to improve infrastructure in Mexico through its Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID works with universities in both Mexico and the U.S. as part of the Training, Internships, Exchanges and Scholarships (TIES) program to create partnerships between higher education institutions in both countries to address development issues. USAID also supports training programs for Mexican educators in the U.S., with the intention that they return to rural, disadvantaged communities in Mexico to pass on their skills and help lead local development initiatives.

Whether these programs—and others supported by USAID—will survive potential cuts by the Trump administration remains to be seen. Following a deal with Democrats, a decision concerning the final fate of his budget proposal has been put off until the end of this year.

Domestic political conditions may also have a significant impact on infrastructure in Mexico. Elections will be held in July to vote for a new president. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, head of the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), is currently ahead in the polls, according to Reuters. He is campaigning on a platform of eliminating corruption and putting the money saved towards economic development.

– Joel Dishman
Photo: Flickr

Infrastructure in Russia Falls Behind

Leaky Pipes? Infrastructure in RussiaDespite high levels of foreign investment and a thriving energy sector, the development and maintenance of infrastructure in Russia remains sluggish and disproportionately benefits a small elite. Russia is one of five major emerging economies grouped under the heading “BRICS”— Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Investment in infrastructure in Russia, however, lags behind other member nations, particularly India and China.

Even with overall low rankings in infrastructure investment, Russia remains an “energy superpower” as a major exporter of oil and natural gas. Indeed, one active area of infrastructure development in Russia is pushing pipelines through Central Asia towards China in an effort to solidify the country’s hold on that market.

This commanding position hasn’t necessarily translated into widely-shared prosperity for the people of Russia. Poverty in the world’s largest country is up by nearly 15 percent. The majority of economic gains go to a fairly small privileged class. As it stands, only 110 households hold between 19 percent to 85 percent of all Russian financial assets. This uneven distribution of prosperity is in large part due to endemic corruption in Russia, facilitated by weak government institutions, a legacy of the breakup of the Soviet Union.

This disregard of the law threatens the future of investment for infrastructure in Russia. Andrey Movchan, senior fellow and director of the Economic Policy Program at the Carnegie Moscow Center, opines that due to corruption state investment in infrastructure not only would likely fail to revitalize the Russian economy but might actively damage it.

The Russian government under Vladimir Putin has actively blocked efforts by the U.S. to improve governance in the nation. Putin’s administration ordered the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID) to shut its operations in Russia in 2012, claiming that the organization was engaging in subversive activities. 

Domestic efforts to combat entrenched corruption likewise face challenges. Enemies of the state are notorious for being sidelined by illness, exile or death. One prominent example of such a suspicious neutralization is the case of Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian tax accountant who died in prison in 2009 following his investigation into potential tax fraud. This prompted the U.S. Congress to pass sanctions in 2012 targeting Russian officials believed to have been involved in human rights violations.

Despite the risks, Russians continue to fight for their futures and for better infrastructure. Alexei Navalny, head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation and a frequent inmate of Russian jails who attracts thousands to his rallies, has announced his intentions to run against Putin in the 2018 presidential elections.

– Joel Dishman

Photo: Flickr

After Oil Windfall, Spending on Infrastructure In Ecuador Continues

After Oil Windfall, Spending on Infrastructure In Ecuador Continues ApaceEcuador is a small, resource-rich country sandwiched between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean on Latin America’s western coast. Home to just over 16 million people, the country’s geography brings with it numerous advantages and pitfalls for infrastructure in Ecuador. With a landscape containing some of the continent’s tallest peaks and the thick jungle of the Amazon, infrastructure in Ecuador is a challenge — but oil revenues, largely found off the coast or in the interior of the country, have spurred a development boom over the last decade.

High oil prices in the late 2000s and early 2010s allowed the government of then-President Rafael Correa to unleash significant government spending on social services, government programs and energy and transport infrastructure in Ecuador. With the end of the oil boom in 2014 and a crash in global prices, the country found itself in a difficult financial situation. Despite the sharp decline in resource revenues, the new government of President Lenin Moreno is pushing ahead with ambitious spending on infrastructure in Ecuador.

While new funding is being dedicated to everything from hospitals to schools, the government is focusing on improvements to energy and coastal infrastructure in Ecuador. The coast around the town of Portoviejo, decimated by a 2016 earthquake that killed 673 and left more than 30,000 homeless, is a prime candidate for greater spending to rebuild damaged infrastructure and is a main focus of the government’s recently unveiled budget for next year.

Without oil revenues, the government is betting that greater public spending on infrastructure in Ecuador — supported by the World Bank and other institutional partners — can accelerate GDP growth in an economy ravaged by the fall in oil prices, the 2016 earthquake and a particularly devastating season of floods due to the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Beyond rebuilding efforts, the government is seeking more public-private partnerships for new infrastructure in Ecuador. Recently announced deals include a $65 million shrimp industry plant built by a Norwegian fish feeding company. The government is also pursuing public projects across the country, including a light rail line in the city of Cuenca and a new market in a town that borders Peru.

– Giacomo Tognini

Photo: Flickr

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Five Important Development Projects in Algeria

5 Development Projects in Algeria
Since gaining independence from France in 1962, Algeria has been arduously attempting to gain some headway on the international stage. Following a 20-year engagement with the socialist model, Algeria shifted its approach to development in the early 80s, and has been actively engaged in the precepts of globalization ever since.

Yet, the road towards development has yet to reach its end. The following are five development projects in Algeria that aim to settle the country in a place of prosperity and hope, once and for all.

  1. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
    IFAD has spent $65.6 million on a series of agricultural development projects in Algeria. First, they aim to strengthen the capacity of rural communities to operate independently. Second, they work to improve irrigation infrastructure, soil and water conservation, management of silo-pastoral ecosystems, livestock husbandry and rural tracks. Lastly, they continue to push for the progression of women’s place in society through the development of rural microenterprises. They have focused assistance on three communities whose economic capabilities are all but limited to agriculture. Currently, their five programs operate in the mountainous areas in the north of the country, the Saharan areas in the south and the coast, where poor fishing communities make up the majority of the population.
  2. Arab Reform Initiative – International Development Research Center of Canada (IDRC)
    After the uprisings in 2011, commonly referred to as the Arab Spring, the fervor slowed as national governments cramped down on protestors. The aim of IDRC funding is to ensure that ideals of democracy and progress are maintained and cultivated in the youth of Algeria. The project, lasting for two years, is managed by the Arab Reform Initiative, and aims to develop the youth as political actors and active citizens engaged in their country’s political, social, economic and cultural spheres.
  3. The Trans-Saharan Highway (La Route Transsaharienne)
    The development of the trans-Saharan highway has been years in the making. The route from Algiers, running through Niger and down through Nigeria, is about 5,000 km. The route itself has been used for trade since the eighth century, but, until recently, has been a road of sand. Paving the road is meant to increase the trade profit between the three nations it runs through. The Algerian government has opted to pay for its portion of the construction from its national budget, a reflection of a trend in their more recent national policy.
  4. World Food Program (WFP) – Algeria’s Sahrawi refugees
    The WFP has operated in Algeria since the late 80s. They work to provide basic food and nutrition needs to the populations of Sahrawi refugees on the country’s Western border. Algeria has hosted Sahrawi refugees from Western Sahara since 1975. The program’s main focus is decreasing a debilitating rate of iron deficiency found in Sahrawi women and children.
  5. Transparency International
    Transparency International is an organization whose aim is to evaluate the transparency of governments. In Algeria, it has determined that transparency is sorely lacking. The country has been scored 34 out of 100, and comes in 108 out of 176 countries. The organization’s tactics are simple. By shining a light on issues of corruption within the government and private sector, Transparency International is able to create accountability in situations where it is sometimes nonexistent. In this way, ideals of transparency have begun to permeate governance, as seen in the 2006 creation of the Central Office for the Suppression of Corruption, an agency tasked with the investigation and prosecution of all forms of bribery in the country.

These five development projects in Algeria are just a small indication of the state of Algerian society today. Ultimately, what these projects exemplify is the potential for further improvement in the North African nation.

– Katarina Schrag

Photo: Flickr