Arun Jaitley meets investors, pitches for infra funding

Tokyo, May 31: Pitching for investment in India's first sovereign wealth fund NIIF, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday, May 31 met global investors and promised them an "advantageous" tax regime in the country.

The Rs 40,000-crore National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) was set up in December and is an investment vehicle for funding commercially viable greenfield, brownfield and stalled projects.

During his meeting with global investors, the Minister highlighted the second-generation reform measures undertaken by the government by way of opening up various sectors to FDI as well as making India an investor friendly environment.

According to sources, the Minister also pitched for further infrastructure investment saying that efforts are on to make India the most advantageous tax jurisdiction.

Also, the Minister said the government has followed fiscal discipline following the rule book of fiscal consolidation. During the meeting, Japanese investors were positive about infrastructure investment, sources said.

The Minister also highlighted various avenues for investment, including in the renewable energy space, during the hour-long meeting. The government is in the process of appointing a CEO for the NIIF, in which 49 per cent is held by the government and remaining would be held by private investors.

PTI