Inside Washington

Chapter 6

Project Finance

Financing for projects in industrialized countries is often available from many sources (e.g., commercial banks, capital markets, private equity). In emerging markets, however, project financing can be much more difficult to obtain due to higher political and commercial risks. In order to spur investment and development, the U.S. government, various multilateral organizations, and foreign governments help by providing loans, loan guarantees, equity, and grants to viable “greenfield” or expansion projects. These financial products not only round out the financing plan, but can often attract private financial institutions to participate in the transaction.

Suppose you are an American citizen with significant business ...