Demand for infrastructure-related project cargo services in South Africa will be determined through private sector input which will inform government planning. “The existing mechanism for infrastructure promotion is the Infrastructure Development Act, which establishes the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Committee (PICC),” says Claire Barclay, partner at Pinsent Masons. In a review of infrastructure-related announcements made by president Cyril Ramaphosa at the virtual Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South A f r ic a (SIDS SA) conference held in June, Barclay and Pinsent Masons projects expert Reuben Cronjé state that Ramaphosa established the Infrastructure and Investment Office in the Presidency (IIO) in late 2019. This body is responsible for developing the country’s infrastructure investment strategy and creating the structures, expertise and capacity within the government to drive infrastructure development. The IIO's work with the private sector resulted in the development of the "SIDS methodology", and establishes a new institution, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA).ISA will take over the technical functions of both the PICC and the National Treasury's Budget Facility for Infrastructure in respect of project identification, preparation, packaging and promotion to create a comprehensive project pipeline.According to Barclay, project evaluation will include private sector input through the Infrastructure Investment Committee which is being established as a public private coordinating body. “Where projects are identified as being ready for funding, these will then be channelled through the existing mechanisms of the Infrastructure Development Act, whereby they will be identified as a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) and published in the government gazette,” she says.Speaking at the opening of the SIDSSA conference, Ramaphosa said the Cov id-19 pandemic had made infrastructure investment even more compelling, even more important, and even more urgent.“Shovel-ready” projects that have been fully developed for implementation will be the priority, ensuring ground is broken as soon as possible.”He called on the private sector to come forward with proposals. “We will seek to prioritise proposals for infrastructure sectors that are important to economic recovery and resilience, including energy, transportation, health care and digital infrastructure.“Working with the private sector we will invest in the creation of both the technical and financial engineering capacity in the state.“The SIDS process has convinced us that this is possible,” he said.In the first five months of the “SIDS Process” 276 projects have been evaluated.“Catalytic” projects outlined at the SIDSSA conference were a Space Infrastructure Hub for National Development (to upgrade South Africa’s satellite capabilities); Project Thobela to roll out broadband in rural areas; the “Greater Cornubia” city some 25 kilometres from the Durban CBD; a 516-hectare Scheepersvlakte Citrus Farm near Kirkwood in the Eastern Cape; and Phase 2A of the Mokolo Crocodile Water Augmentation Project to supply the Medupi and Matimba power stations.Other projects with a combined value of R2.3 trillion under consideration include: 71 housing projects with a projected investment value of R1.4 trillion that could create 370 000 jobs 25 energy projects that could generate R270 billion in investment and support 260 000 jobs 33 agriculture projects worth R28.5 billion that could create jobs 65 transport projects worth R294 billion that could support 298 000 jobs 42 water and sanitation projects, with a projected investment value of R170 billion that could create 96 000 jobs Seven digital infrastructure projects, which could generate R108 billion in investment and support 707 000 jobs.