Investcorp and Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) have announced the launch of a joint venture that will invest in social and core infrastructure projects in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. 

GCC countries have a population of around 57 million people and have almost half the world’s oil reserves. The region has benefited from the world’s demand for oil over recent decades but their governments are now taking steps to diversify economies away from oil. As part of this, various initiatives have been launched to prioritize the development of critical social and core infrastructure.

The joint venture will actively target greenfield and brownfield social and core essential infrastructure assets in sectors including healthcare, education, utilities, social housing, smart cities, roads and rail.

It will benefit from ASI’s strong track-record of investing in 120 social infrastructure projects over the past 20 years and Investcorp’s extensive private equity expertise and market reach in the Gulf.