The document discusses blended finance as a way to combine public and private sector objectives through risk mitigation by the public sector. It provides an example of how multilateral development banks could help finance infrastructure projects in developing countries by purchasing bonds or shares to demonstrate acceptable risk to institutional investors. Specifically, it discusses a hydropower project in Kyrgyzstan called Kambarata-1 HPP that could benefit from such financing assistance and have positive impacts by meeting energy needs, saving water, and supporting sustainable development goals.

1. The most interesting topic for me was a chapter about the “Blended
Finance”, combining the public sector’s social return objectives and private sector’s
financial return objectives through risk mitigation by the public sector in a manner
that induces the private sector to participate. This is the great idea, in my opinion
if it works correctly and as mentioned will be the most efficient program in “millions
to billions”. In few years this program can finance the most of the savings in the
capital market.
According to the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, the “big task” of getting long-term capital into equity investments in
poor countries is attracting newer sources of finance in developing countries, such
as sovereign wealth and pension funds. And as a branch or lateral of “Blended
Finance” can be assistance through policy advice, technical assistance or capacity
building of MDBs (Multilateral Development Banks) in issuing and placement of the
bonds or shares on the international financial markets to raise funds for financing
the development and infrastructure projects, that are staying unfinanced in some
little income countries. Also help is needed from MDB and international partners
in raise own local capital markets like providing credit enhancement, structured
finance and hedging options to increase the attractiveness of bond offerings,
Providing technical and policy advice on institutions and regulations.
As I am from the Kyrgyz Republic, I would like to have an example of the
projects from my country. According to “Doing Business 2016” Income category of
Kyrgyz Republic is Lower middle income, global rank is 67 of 180 countries. There
was a lot of job and activities done to rise to this rank in last years. For example,
we have good scores and ranks in Starting a Business (rank: 35), Dealing with
Construction Permits (rank: 20), Registering Property (rank: 6), Protecting Minority
Investors (rank: 36). And also we have some problem areas such as Enforcing
contracts (rank: 137), paying taxes (rank: 138), Getting electricity (rank: 180). There
are 10 topics in the ranking in Doing Business in 2016 and I would like to draw your
attention to most important of them.
All the low income countries face the same problems in domestic resource
mobilization (DRM) like legalization of Illicit incomes, underinvoicing, a large
informal sector and tax avoidance activities of international corporations. In this
area the government with the assistance of International Donors, MDBs and OECD
countries, is taking a huge steps to improve the situation like strengthen tax
administration, simplifying the revenue system, bringing global experience and
bear on addressing illicit flows and the international aspects of taxation,
strengthening independent oversight arrangements, including in the areas of
citizen participation, supreme audit institutions and parliaments. and on improving
the measurement of DRM (domestic resource mobilization) gaps and results.

2. Although the need for infrastructure investments is huge and private
investors with record amounts of savings need long-term investments, not enough
investments are directed towards infrastructure. Because of the main difference
between the private and public sector in terms of how their investment decisions
are driven. Private sector is always taking in to accounts risks and return of the
investment they have made. In this situation LIC (low income country) needed
assistance in de-risking their infrastructure projects.
In Kyrgyz Republic as I said before we have problems in “Getting electricity”
(Doing Business 2016). And the government is also trying to solve this problem like
improving the system of state regulation and the encouragement of energy
conservation, strengthening the role of state and local authorities and NGOs in the
matters of energy conservation and energy efficiency of buildings, creating an
environment that encourages application of energy efficient technologies for
buildings and structures, promote the use of renewable energy sources.
In my opinion without the assistance of MDBs like IFC and European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development who can invest directly the privet sector, can’t
be solved.
Initially let me introduce the National Project of construction of the
“Kambarata -1” HPP (hydro power plant) which is in the “NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC” for the period of 2013-
2017. The planned capacity of the station “Kambarata-1” will be 1900 MW, 4 hydro
turbines 475 MW each. Electricity generation 5 billion KWh, the volume of the
reservoir - 4.5 bln. cubic meters of water. Construction cost of the “Kambar Ata – 1
HPP” is about 3400 million dollars. The Government Invested about 100 million
dollars to the project “Kambarata -1 HPP”.
With the commissioning of Kambarata-1, guaranteedly will cover water
needs of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in growing season, regardless of the natural
water content of the Naryn River. And Kyrgyz republic will cover the winter demand
of electricity. One more aspect of the project is it saves water, when the deficit of
fresh water in the world is rising year to year.
Increasing costs of energy resources is a sustainable trend that will continue,
this is why the project generates positive NPV in long-term period. The lack of
financing, stopped the project for undefined period. If this project issues bonds or
shares, it would be a huge help if MDB will purchase a small part of shares to show
institutional investors that project can be financed and risks are acceptable or can
assist in placement the shares or bonds on international capital markets.

3. This like projects is the example of when one project is carrying after the
whole economy of the country and the region. The generated power will increase
the country in “Doing Business 2016” that will make the country more attractive
for the investors and will increase DRM (domestic resource mobilization). Also this
project has positive effect on neighbor countries and saves water when there is a
lack of pure water.
Just one project covers the 4 steps of Sustainable development goals (SDGs):
1. Goal 6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all;
2. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all;
3. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts;
4. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,
sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse
land degradation and halt biodiversity loss: