Presentations

Is construction truly a global business? To what extent does the current geopolitical landscape shape market access policies in the infrastructure sector? And what are the prospects for international construction companies aiming to participate in large-scale infrastructure and energy projects?
This session aims to explore how national and international frameworks regulate – and increasingly reshape – access to construction markets. Particular attention will be given to major construction economies such as India, China, other key Asian markets, the United States, and Europe. The session will address the evolving balance between openness and strategic protection in publicly driven infrastructure development, focusing on the following key issues:

• International trade agreements regulating market access for construction companies, with particular emphasis on the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) and its scope of coverage;
• Domestic legal frameworks and policies that influence access to national infrastructure markets;
• Emerging restrictions and protectionist policies affecting foreign participation in public construction projects;
• Local content requirements, including both direct and indirect legal instruments designed to protect domestic construction companies;
• Impact on supply chains in the construction sector, particularly how protective policies affect subcontractors, suppliers, and cross-border cooperation;
• Competition law considerations, including the implications of restricted market access on fair competition and market dynamics;
• Security as an increasingly growing factor in energy and infrastructure projects.