PE funds

I guess the International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank) makes this kind of investments (www.ifc.org)

thank you. yeah something similar to the ifc but in the private sector. I know micro finance, i guess maybe not too many PE funds do it. Not profitable enough, perhaps

i've heard that there are VC firms that do this sort of thing on a small scale. can't remember which ones, though.

Its very very tough for them to enter that type of market simply because infra hasn't been "proven" yet. It is still a nascent alternative asset class and the last thing they want to do is expose themselves by investing in a developing country. For now, they are trying to create Public Private Partnerships with states or countries that have tollways, roads, bridges with strong cash-flows.

Unfortunately in the states, the general public hates privatization so there have been a few failed deals like the much anticipated privatization of Illinois airports. However, with state bankruptcies expected to occur in the up-coming years the state governments will have little choice but to lease them to private funds (usually for a 100 years or so).

*note: If I was an infra fund, I would be watching California very closely...Golden Gate anyone?

Actis (act.is)
CDC (cdcgroup.com)
Crescent Capital (crescent.com.tr)

PM me if you want more suggestions or help. Cheers.