Spain unveils 'extensive' infrastructure investment

Spain is to invest EUR19 billion in infrastructure improvements as part of a EUR33 billion fund allocated to revive the country's economy, it has emerged.

According to the AFP, the country's prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced the investment - which will see EUR5 billion spent on environmental projects and EUR8 billion on local authorities - at a meeting of Socialist mayors.

He was quoted as saying that 2009 "would be an historic year in terms of launching public works programmes".

Such investment could help to improve the country's housing market, which may result in increased interest from overseas property investors.

Research by Globaledge recently found Spain to be the most popular choice for potential property investors living in English-speaking countries.

The country and its towns and regions beat second-placed France by a ratio of over two to one in the study, which analysed Google searches made during September 2008.