Infrastructure development is critical to delivering growth, reducing poverty and addressing broader development goals, as argued in the World Bank Report Transformation through Infrastructure (2012). This paper surveys the literature of the linkages between infrastructure investment and economic growth, discusses the role of infrastructure in the participation of global value chains and in supporting economic upgrades, highlights the challenges faced the least developed countries and provides policy recommendations. It suggests that addressing the bottlenecks in infrastructure is a necessary condition to provide a window of opportunity for an economy to develop following its comparative advantage. With the right conditions, good infrastructure can support an economy, particularly a less developed economy, to reap the benefit through the participation in the global value chains to upgrade the economic structure.

It has become commonplace to describe publicly provided infrastructure as being in a sorry state and to advance public-private partnership as a possible remedy. This essay adopts a skeptical but not a cynical posture toward those claims. The paper starts by reviewing the comparative properties of markets and politics within a theory of budgeting where the options are construction and maintenance. This analytical point of departure explains how incongruities between political and market action can favor construction over maintenance. In short, political entities can engage in an implicit form of public debt by reducing maintenance spending to support other budgetary items. This implicit form of public debt does not manifest in higher interest rates but rather manifests in crumbling bridges and other infrastructure due to the transfer of maintenance into other budgetary activities.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to enhance connectivity and collaboration among 60 countries and beyond in Asia, Africa and Europe. Information and communications technology (ICT) is an indispensable component of the initiative, critical in providing fundamental communication channels for global financial transactions, trade exchanges and transport and energy connectivity, and socio cultural collaboration and scientific exchanges between people, organizations and countries along the BRI corridors. Previously constrained by infrastructure deficits in ICT, the Asia-Pacific region is accelerating its efforts to provide reliable and affordable broadband networks throughout the region, to contribute to successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Within the BRI corridors, this study which has been undertaken as part of the research programme of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on promoting regional economic cooperation and integration, focuses on the China-Central Asia Corridor (China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), giving attention to the sub-region’s specific challenges, namely limited international transit opportunities and an increase in bandwidth requirements that is expected to grow exponentially, as the fourth industrial evolution centered on automation and artificial intelligence gathers momentum. The sub-region is characterized as highly dependent on the ease and costs of connecting to neighboring countries for transit, as many countries in the sub-region are landlocked developing countries (LLDC). Because of the geographical features and other factors, the development potential of Central Asia and its integration into globalization, continues to be stymied by insufficient international bandwidth and high transit costs to access international links. Therefore, improved ICT connectivity in Central Asia through the BRI corridor could result in improved availability and affordability of broadband networks and services in the sub-region.

For the purpose of this study, a gap analysis is the methodology that underpins the proposed topology for the China-Central Asia Corridor. The analysis included examining the current state of the optic infrastructure, such as existing and planned fiber-optic networks, existing Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) and international gateways. The study also identifies the key factors that determine the desired future state of infrastructure deployment for the BRI initiative. A topology that consists of connecting Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Urumqi (China), as core nodes, is proposed based on a partial mesh topology. Over and above this core finding, the study concludes that digital infrastructure connectivity has a tendency of lagging behind the rapid opportunities evolving, and the study therefore advocates for sub-regional and regional approaches, including the BRI and Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS) in further expanding regional broadband networks. A key recommendation of the study is co-deployment of broadband infrastructure along passive infrastructure, as an additional cost effective means of achieving fast and affordable broadband connectivity for all.

This exploratory study aims to identify the main characteristics and relationships between artificial intelligence (AI) and broadband development in Asia and the Pacific. Broadband networks are the foundation and prerequisite for the development of AI. But what types of broadband networks would be conducive are not adequately discussed so far. Furthermore, in addition to broadband networks, other factors, such as income level, broadband quality, and investment, are expected to influence the uptake of AI in the region. The findings are synthesized into a set of policy recommendations at the end of the article, which highlights the need for regional cooperation through an initiative, such as the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway (AP-IS). 

This study investigates the impact of toll road construction on 59 micro, small, and medium enterprises in Kampar, Pekanbaru, and Dumai cities. The research aims to analyze the economic and environmental effects of infrastructure expansion on businesses’ profitability and sustainability, providing insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop mitigation strategies to support MSMEs amidst ongoing infrastructure development. Structural equation modeling, spatial environmental impact analysis, and qualitative data analysis using five-level qualitative data analysis (FL-QDA) were all used together in a mixed-methods approach. Data collection involved observations, interviews, questionnaires, and geospatial analysis, including the use of a Geo-Information System (GIS) supported by drone reconnaissance to map affected areas. The study revealed that the toll roads significantly enhanced connectivity and economic growth but also negatively impacted local economies (β = 0.32, R² = 0.60, P-value ≤ 0.05). and the environment (β = 0.34, P-value ≤ 0.05), as 49% of respondents experienced a 50% decrease in profitability. To mitigate the risk of impact, policymakers should prioritize the principle of prudence to evaluate the significance of mitigation policy implementation (β = 0.144, P-value ≥ 0.05). In a nutshell, toll road construction significantly impacts MSMEs’ business continuity, necessitating an innovative strategy involving monitoring and participatory approaches to mitigate risk.

In the evolving landscape of the 21st century, universities are at the forefront of re-imagining their infrastructural identity. This conceptual paper delves into the transformative shifts witnessed within university infrastructure, focusing on the harmonisation of tangible physical assets and the expanding world of digital evolution. As brick-and-mortar structures remain pivotal, integrating digital platforms rapidly redefines the academic landscape, optimising learning and administrative experiences. The modern learning paradigm, enriched by this symbiotic relationship, offers dynamic, flexible, and comprehensive educational encounters, thereby transcending traditional spatial and temporal constraints. Therefore, this paper accentuates the broader implications of this infrastructural metamorphosis, particularly its significant role in driving economic development. The synergistic effects of physical and digital infrastructures enhance academic excellence and position universities as key players in addressing and navigating global challenges, setting forth a resilient and forward-looking educational blueprint for the future. In conclusion, integrating physical and digital infrastructures within universities heralds a transformative era, shaping a holistic, adaptable, and enriched academic environment poised to meet 21st-century challenges. This study illuminates the symbiotic relationship between tangible university assets and digital innovations, offering insights into their collective impact on modern education and broader economic trajectories.