Export Finance Australia invests in infrastructure fund to support development in the Indo-Pacific

Media Release 

29 July 2025 

Export Finance Australia (EFA) has executed a US$100 million (A$155 million) loan to the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company, managed by Ninety One. The investment will back sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy projects across the Indo-Pacific, with a particular focus on South and Southeast Asia. 

The financing aligns with broader Australian Government efforts to strengthen trade and investment ties, build regional resilience and remain a partner of choice for South and Southeast Asia. It supports the implementation of Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and the New Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India. Through this loan, EFA is helping unlock capital to drive the green energy transition and boost economic growth in these key markets. 

EAAIF is a leading infrastructure investor that provides long-term debt and financing solutions for high-impact projects in emerging economies across Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Its portfolio focuses on green transport, sustainable aviation fuels and clean energy projects that enhance connectivity and productivity, while delivering tangible benefits to communities and businesses.  

EFA’s investment supports EAAIF’s ambition to mobilise over US$1 billion for infrastructure across Asia and Africa by 2028. Building on two decades of experience, EAAIF is scaling up support for next-generation projects that promote sustainability, energy access, and inclusive growth across the Indo-Pacific. 

Managed by Ninety One and owned by PIDG, EAAIF has financed over 130 projects since its establishment in 2001. In 2024, it expanded its geographic mandate to include South and Southeast Asia, aligning with Australia's trade and investment priorities. PIDG is co-owned by the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden and Global Affairs Canada.  

EFA’s loan builds on Australia’s existing investment in PIDG and reflects its commitment to mobilising capital for infrastructure development in emerging markets. John Hopkins, Managing Director & CEO of EFA, said the transaction is part of EFA’s broader focus on delivering high-impact finance solutions that support deeper economic engagement with South and Southeast Asia. 

“Our investment in EAAIF enables us to support a diverse pipeline of renewable energy and infrastructure projects while partnering with a proven fund manager and a globally recognised development finance platform,” Mr Hopkins said. 

“It also demonstrates the value of working with like-minded partners to crowd in private capital and help close the infrastructure and climate financing gap across the Indo-Pacific.” 

Olivia Carballo, Managing Director and Martijn Proos, Co-Head of Emerging Market Alternative Credit, Ninety One, the fund manager of EAAIF, said: “Through our collaboration with the Australian Government, EFA is helping to deliver sustainable infrastructure and clean energy projects across the Indo-Pacific. This partnership enables access to high-growth markets through a blended finance vehicle. By collaborating domestically, we are able to deliver resilient, climate-smart infrastructure to some of the fastest-growing yet underserved markets, bridging the financing gap and creating opportunities for people, communities and ambitious businesses across the region.”

Philippe Valahu, CEO, PIDG said: “The partnership with EFA marks a powerful endorsement of PIDG’s mission to mobilise and multiply capital for infrastructure that has a deep and lasting impact on communities and economies. This commitment strengthens our capacity to deliver transformative projects in high-growth markets, reinforcing the shared ambition between PIDG and the Australian Government to accelerate inclusive growth and the region’s green transition”. 

Media Contact:   

EAAIF: Tom Collins - tcollins@africapractice.com 

About Export Finance Australia 
EFA is Australia’s export credit agency. EFA provides commercial finance for export trade and overseas investment and infrastructure development. From small and medium-sized enterprises to large corporates, foreign governments and infrastructure projects, it helps Australian businesses take on the world. In doing so, EFA finance supports Australia’s economic security and regional resilience. 
 
EFA administers the Australian Government’s National Interest Account, which currently includes the Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility, the Critical Minerals Facility, the Defence Export Facility and lending for the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific. EFA also provides support to other Commonwealth entities, including Housing Australia and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. 

About the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund  
EAAIF is a blended finance vehicle that raises and deploys public and private debt capital to transformative infrastructure projects across Africa, the Levant and South and Southeast Asia. EAAIF provides various debt products on commercial terms to infrastructure projects primarily owned, actively managed, and operated by the best in private sector expertise. EAAIF helps create the infrastructure framework that is essential to stimulate economic stability, business confidence, job creation and poverty reduction. EAAIF's committed loan portfolio is USD 1.6 billion, invested across 25 countries and 10 infrastructure sectors. EAAIF is part of the PIDG. EAAIF was established and substantially funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Sweden. In addition, it raises its debt capital from public and private financiers. EAAIF is managed by Ninety One. www.eaif.com 

About the Private Infrastructure Development Group  
PIDG is an innovative infrastructure project developer and investor which mobilises private investment in sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia. PIDG investments promote socio-economic development within a just transition to net zero emissions, combat poverty and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PIDG delivers its ambition in line with its values of pioneering, partnership, safety, inclusivity, and urgency. 

PIDG offers Technical Assistance for upstream, early-stage activities and concessional capital. Its project development arm – InfraCo – invests in early-stage project development and project and corporate equity. PIDG credit solutions include EAAIF, one of the first and more successful blended debt funds in low-income markets; GuarantCo, its guarantee arm that provides credit enhancement and local currency solutions to de-risk projects; and a growing portfolio of local credit enhancement facilities, which unlocks domestic institutional capital for infrastructure financing. 

Since 2002, PIDG has supported 258 infrastructure projects to financial close, which provided an estimated 232 million people with access to new or improved infrastructure. PIDG is funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden and Global Affairs Canada. www.pidg.org
 

About Ninety One
Ninety One is an active, global investment manager managing $191.5 billion in assets (30.06.25). Its goal is to provide long-term investment returns for clients while making a positive difference to people and the planet. Established in South Africa in 1991, as Investec Asset Management, the firm began as a small start-up offering domestic investments in an emerging market. In 2020, as a global firm proud of its emerging market roots, it demerged to become Ninety One.  Niney One is committed to developing specialist investment teams organically. Its heritage and approach allow it to bring a different perspective to active and sustainable investing across equities, fixed income, multi-asset and alternatives to clients - institutions, advisors and individual investors around the world. www.ninetyone.com