Opportunity 2030: The Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map reveals analmost USD10 trillion (USD9.668 trillion) opportunity for private-sectorinvestors across all emerging markets to help achieve the UN’s SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs), with Pakistan representing USD96.2 billion ofthat totals.
The study identifies opportunities for the private sector to contribute tothree infrastructure-focused goals between now and 2030: SDG 6: Clean Waterand Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 9: Industry,Innovation and Infrastructure across emerging markets
The greatest investment opportunity in Pakistan is found in achieving andmaintaining universal access to electricity (a key SDG 7 indicator),representing a USD44.7 private-sector opportunity.
This considers the proportion of the population currently withoutelectricity access (29 per cent), projected population growth, and thegrowing demand for power as the economy develops.
There is also significant opportunity for investment in digitalinfrastructure, with a potential private-sector contribution of aroundUSD34 billion needed to achieve full digital adoption (measured by acombination of mobile phone subscription rates and internet connectivity).Digital access is a key indicator for SDG 9, which encourages improvementin industry, innovation and infrastructure.
The other SDG 9 indicator in Opportunity2030 is transport infrastructure.To significantly improve Pakistan’s transport infrastructure by 2030indicates a USD13.5 billion investment opportunity for the private sector.
The opportunity in the water and sanitation sector is smaller but couldmake a significant impact. Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of Pakistan’spopulation still do not have access to clean water and sanitation, a keySDG 6 indicator.
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Closing this gap by 2030 will require significant investment, with anopportunity for the private sector to provide around USD4 billion of thefunding.Shazad Dada Chief Executive Officer at Standard Chartered said:
“Pakistan has demonstrated strong commitment to the UN SustainableDevelopment Goals by becoming the first country to adopt the SDGs as partof its national development agenda through a Parliamentary Resolution.
The private sector will play a crucial role in enabling Pakistan to hitthese targets and there is substantial opportunity for investment thatsupports infrastructure development, including digital, energy provisioningas well as clean water and sanitation.
“Opportunity2030 provides an important map of the SDG opportunities forprivate sector investors looking to invest with impact and improve thelives of millions of Pakistanis over the next decade”, he added.
