NIIF Emerges as Key Capital Mobiliser for India's Infrastructure: FM Sitharaman
- NIIF AUM crosses Rs 30,000 crore, catalysing Rs 1.17 lakh crore in capital.
- Strong global partnerships with sovereign funds, pension funds, and MDBs.
- Master Fund & Private Markets Fund fully committed; focus on infrastructure.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the sixth meeting of the Governing Council (GC) of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), commending its significant role in mobilising capital towards infrastructure and other key sectors aligned with national priorities.
During the meeting, the Governing Council was briefed on NIIF’s overall strategy, investment status, sectoral focus, fund performance, and future plans across its four active funds: the Master Fund (infrastructure), Private Markets Fund (fund of funds), Strategic Opportunities Fund (growth equity), and India Japan Fund (focused on climate, sustainability, and bilateral corridor investments).
Highlighting NIIF’s increasing contribution to India’s development agenda, the GC appreciated the Fund’s performance, noting that its Assets Under Management (AUM) had surpassed Rs 30,000 crore. In addition, NIIF has successfully catalysed capital of Rs 1,17,000 crore, reflecting its growing role as a key sovereign-linked asset manager.
The council lauded NIIF's efforts in fostering strong partnerships with marquee global investors, including sovereign wealth funds such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Temasek. It also acknowledged the support from leading pension funds including AustralianSuper, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), along with multilateral development institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and New Development Bank (NDB).
Further, the GC noted that the Master Fund and Private Markets Fund have been fully committed, with the Master Fund playing a vital role in greenfield infrastructure development across ports, logistics, airports, and data centres.
Progress on the upcoming Private Markets Fund II, which targets a $1 billion corpus, was also reviewed. The GC appreciated the successful onboarding of private investors and noted that the fund is poised for its first close.
Discussions also included a proposed bilateral fund with the United States. The GC provided strategic guidance on successful fundraising, timely execution, and deployment of capital.
The council advised NIIF to leverage its sovereign-backed credentials and emphasised the need for a professional, globally visible positioning to attract international investor confidence and further elevate its role in India’s infrastructure growth story.
