De-mothballing of power generating plants and the upgrading of power distribution networks, water-supply infrastructure, railway lines and rolling stock are all to be welcomed. While our main airports currently seem to cope well, projected further increases in passenger numbers and freight volumes necessitate further expansion. The cluster of industries linked to infrastructure is evidently going to experience buoyant times in the coming years.
The accompanying imports of machinery and equipment might, of course, initially widen the deficit on the current account of our balance of payments. However, foreign finance usually accompanies such imports, and later on the improved infrastructure is likely to boost exports as the supply side of our economy is streamlined. A particularly sensitive area is that of land reform.