Section Four: Planning for the Development of Key Infrastructures explains how the development of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ infrastructure is important to generating economic growth, facilitating commerce and investment, and improving the quality of life of people by facilitating access to essential services and promoting social inclusion. Hard infrastructures for transportation, public utilities, ICT, and power are highlighted, alongside ‘soft’ infrastructures like absorptive capacity, investment promotion, and a hospitable business climate. The strategies used by countries and international organizations to mainstream infrastructure development into economic development policy and planning are discussed. The experiences of Egypt, Singapore, and Rwanda are reviewed and the lessons drawn therefrom summarized to guide other countries.

Prof. Uwem Essia holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics from the University of Calabar, Nigeria. He taught Development Theory and Planning at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels for more than 2 decades and has written extensively on economic development and planning and other aspects of economics, management, and the social sciences.