Advertisement
The Gulf conflict has disrupted global supply chains, pushed...
REITs have changed the way commercial real estate is owned a...
What does it take to preserve a real estate legacy while bui...
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called on multilateral institutions to help attract private investment into infrastructure projects across BRICS economies, citing common structural constraints in mobilising capital at scale. Speaking at a seminar in Jaipur on the role of the New Development Bank in mobilising private capital, she said investment depended not only on the availability of funds but also on predictable policies, investor confidence and credible long-term frameworks. India, which holds the BRICS presidency in 2026, is seeking greater private participation alongside public infrastructure spending. The Finance Ministry has created a three-year pipeline of infrastructure projects estimated at more than INR 17 lakh crore for development through public-private partnerships. The National Infrastructure Pipeline, launched in 2019, covered 13,000 projects worth an estimated INR 185 lakh crore as of March 2025.
NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday called on multilateral institutions to help mobilise private capital for infrastructure projects across BRICS economies, saying the group faces common structural constraints in attracting investment at scale despite its importance to global economic growth.
Sitharaman made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at a seminar on the role of the New Development Bank (NDB) in mobilising private capital in member countries. The event was held in Jaipur on the sidelines of the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting, ahead of the BRICS summit scheduled for next month.
India holds the rotating BRICS presidency for 2026. The 11-member grouping includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, among other emerging economies. The finance minister said multilateral development banks could play a greater role in bringing private investors into infrastructure by reducing investment risks, improving the bankability of projects and strengthening investor confidence.
She said the challenge for BRICS economies extended beyond the availability of capital. According to her, sustained private-sector participation required confidence in projects, predictable policies and credible long-term frameworks. These conditions, she said, were necessary to create an environment in which investors could commit capital to infrastructure projects over longer periods.
India is seeking private investment to supplement its public expenditure on infrastructure. Sitharaman said public capital should serve as a catalyst for private investment rather than substitute for it. The government has increased public capital expenditure over the past decade while implementing structural reforms across the infrastructure ecosystem.
The Centre has also developed a pipeline of projects intended to increase private participation. In January, the Finance Ministry created a three-year infrastructure project pipeline estimated at more than INR 17 lakh crore, with the projects proposed to be developed through public-private partnerships.
The pipeline builds on the National Infrastructure Pipeline, which was launched in 2019 to facilitate investment in infrastructure projects. According to an ICRA report cited in the source, the National Infrastructure Pipeline covered 13,000 projects with a combined estimated cost of INR 185 lakh crore as of March 2025.
The government’s infrastructure investment programme spans sectors including highways, railways, ports, logistics, digital infrastructure and energy networks. The approach is intended to combine public spending with private-sector participation in projects requiring substantial and sustained investment.
At the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting, Sitharaman also stressed the need for member countries to work towards resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth while translating cooperation into practical outcomes.
The focus on private capital comes as BRICS economies seek to address infrastructure financing requirements while managing investment risks. Sitharaman’s call places multilateral development banks, including the NDB, in a role that extends beyond conventional development finance towards helping governments structure investable projects and attract institutional and private investors.
For India, the approach is linked to the continued expansion of infrastructure investment through public spending, alongside a growing pipeline of projects structured for private participation.
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
