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LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - Nineteen leading investors ininfrastructure have launched a global trade body to supportengagement with governments and regulators.
The group is called the Global Infrastructure InvestorAssociation and has backing from founding members includingAllianz Capital Partners, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure andDutch pension fund PGGM.
The founders collectively manage 2.4 trillion euros ($2.61trillion) in assets under management, 177 billion euros of whichis invested in infrastructure, the GIIA said in a statement onFriday.
"Infrastructure as an asset class has emerged from withinalternative assets into its own distinct class," said GIIAspokesperson Lonneke Löwik.
"Private investors in this asset class are likely going toplay a crucial role in the coming decades as existinginfrastructure across the globe requires updating and newinfrastructure is created."($1 = 0.9188 Euros) (Reporting by Simon Jessop; editing by Carolyn Cohn)
