In order to boost infrastructure investment, China is making a nationwide push to boost the country's nascent Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) market.

The National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) through its notice posted on Friday, urged its local bureaus to step up publicity, cut red tape, and improve services, so that more infrastructure projects can be listed in the form of REITs.

Earlier in June this year, China launched a public REITs market in Shanghai and Shenzhen, which allowed infrastructure projects - ranging from toll ways to sewage plants - to be listed as part of an effort to ease the debt burden on local governments.

Under the pilot scheme, eligible underlying assets are limited to infrastructure projects, and exclude commercial properties such as shopping malls or offices.

Nine REITs were listed at launch, but since then only three others have been added. Analysts have said the market faces challenges, including a shortage of quality and profitable projects to list, as well as legal and tax issues.

As per the NDRC notice posted on Wednesday, local bureaus should tell infrastructure owners how REITs can help them reduce leverage, ward off debt risks and improve efficiency, and encourage them to list good projects.

In addition, the NDRC urged its local bureaus to coordinate more with other government agencies, such as securities and environmental regulators, to speed up the issuance of REITs.

NDRC said the proceeds of REIT listings should be recycled into new projects, and the agency will step up its monitoring of the money flows.

Chinese regulators have said REITs widen the financing channel for infrastructure projects, provide investors with more options, and help reduce China's macro leverage ratio and fend off financial risks.

Image credit: Economic Times