Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, chaired the sixth meeting of the Governing Council (GC) of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF) in New Delhi. The GC commended NIIF鈥檚 progress as a sovereign-linked asset manager and its partnerships with globally renowned investors such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Temasek, AustralianSuper, Ontario Teachers鈥� Pension Plan, CPPIB, AIIB, ADB, NDB, and JBIC.
The Council acknowledged NIIF鈥檚 role in mobilising long-term capital into India鈥檚 infrastructure and strategic sectors, aligning with national development priorities. NIIF鈥檚 Assets Under Management have surpassed Rs 300 billion (Rs 30,000 crore), catalysing additional capital of Rs 1.17 trillion (Rs 1,17,000 crore).
Updates were provided on the performance and strategic direction of NIIF鈥檚 four active funds:
- Master Fund (infrastructure focus)
- Private Markets Fund (fund of funds model)
- India-Japan Fund (climate, sustainability, bilateral corridor)
- Strategic Opportunities Fund (growth equity focus)
Both the Master Fund and Private Markets Fund are now fully committed. Notably, Master Fund investments have contributed to the development of greenfield infrastructure in ports, logistics, airports, and data centres.
The GC reviewed the progress of Private Markets Fund II, targeting a corpus of USD 1 billion. The new fund has already onboarded private investors and is expected to close its first round soon. Discussions were also shared about a proposed bilateral fund with the United States, with strategic guidance offered on timely launch and deployment.
The Council advised NIIF to enhance its global visibility, adopt a proactive approach to fund-raising, and diversify its investor base. Members expressed strong confidence in NIIF鈥檚 growing strategic role and recommended that GC meetings be held annually going forward.
The meeting was attended by Finance Secretary Shri Ajay Seth, DFS Secretary Shri M. Nagaraju, Ms. Anuradha Thakur (OSD, DEA), SBI Chairman Shri C.S. Setty, and Kotak Mahindra Bank Founder Shri Uday Kotak.
