Key Takeaways
- • OMFIF convened a roundtable with the Indian High Commission and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund to examine India's alternative investment landscape, with focus on regulatory frameworks, infrastructure development, and green transition opportunities.
- • Key speakers included Neelkanth Mishra (Chief Economist at Axis Capital and advisor to India's Prime Minister's economic council), Sanjiv Aggarwal (CEO of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund and former Actis partner), and Zia Mody (Managing Partner at AZB & Partners), representing banking, infrastructure investment, and legal expertise respectively.
- • India's alternative investment sector is positioned as one of the fastest-growing investment segments, with projections to reach USD 116.6 billion by 2029, reflecting structural maturation in the AIF ecosystem supported by domestic capital flows.
- • Private credit has emerged as a dominant narrative within India's alternative investment space, transitioning from niche status to a major investment category alongside traditional private equity, real estate, and venture capital strategies.
- • India's regulatory framework for alternative investments evolved significantly following SEBI's introduction of AIF regulations in 2012, establishing the foundational infrastructure for institutional capital deployment in non-traditional asset classes.
Summary
OMFIF hosted a strategic roundtable discussion examining alternative investment opportunities in India, bringing together senior stakeholders from India's financial infrastructure, regulatory bodies, and investment management sectors. The forum brought together representatives from the Indian High Commission and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund to assess the current and forward-looking investment climate for alternative assets in a key emerging market.
The discussion centered on three critical pillars: India's regulatory framework governing alternative investments, infrastructure development initiatives, and the country's approach to green transition financing. This framework reflects institutional investor concerns regarding the operational and legal environment for deploying capital into non-traditional asset classes within India. The roundtable format was designed to deepen understanding among UK-based asset owners and managers regarding investment opportunities and constraints in India's alternative investment ecosystem.
India's alternative investment landscape has undergone substantial evolution since SEBI's introduction of Alternative Investment Fund regulations in 2012, establishing the regulatory scaffolding necessary for institutional participation. The sector is now entering a more mature and structurally resilient phase, driven by strong domestic capital flows. Market projections indicate the alternative investment space will reach USD 116.6 billion by 2029, with alternatives representing one of the fastest-growing investment segments in India. Private credit has particularly emerged as a powerful growth narrative, transitioning from a niche investment category to a mainstream component of alternative portfolios, alongside established categories including private equity, real estate, and venture capital strategies.
The speaker panel represented deep expertise across financial services, infrastructure investment, and legal domains. Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist at Axis Capital and advisor to India's Prime Minister's economic advisory council, provided macroeconomic perspective. Sanjiv Aggarwal, CEO of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund and former partner at Actis (where he led Asian energy and renewables investments), brought direct infrastructure investment experience. Zia Mody, Managing Partner of AZB & Partners, offered legal and regulatory insight into the alternative investment operating environment.
The discussion centered on three critical pillars: India's regulatory framework governing alternative investments, infrastructure development initiatives, and the country's approach to green transition financing. This framework reflects institutional investor concerns regarding the operational and legal environment for deploying capital into non-traditional asset classes within India. The roundtable format was designed to deepen understanding among UK-based asset owners and managers regarding investment opportunities and constraints in India's alternative investment ecosystem.
India's alternative investment landscape has undergone substantial evolution since SEBI's introduction of Alternative Investment Fund regulations in 2012, establishing the regulatory scaffolding necessary for institutional participation. The sector is now entering a more mature and structurally resilient phase, driven by strong domestic capital flows. Market projections indicate the alternative investment space will reach USD 116.6 billion by 2029, with alternatives representing one of the fastest-growing investment segments in India. Private credit has particularly emerged as a powerful growth narrative, transitioning from a niche investment category to a mainstream component of alternative portfolios, alongside established categories including private equity, real estate, and venture capital strategies.
The speaker panel represented deep expertise across financial services, infrastructure investment, and legal domains. Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist at Axis Capital and advisor to India's Prime Minister's economic advisory council, provided macroeconomic perspective. Sanjiv Aggarwal, CEO of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund and former partner at Actis (where he led Asian energy and renewables investments), brought direct infrastructure investment experience. Zia Mody, Managing Partner of AZB & Partners, offered legal and regulatory insight into the alternative investment operating environment.
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