FM Jaitley invites pension funds, other Japanese investors

TOKYO: Keen on investments from Japan to boost economic growth, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today met key ministers in the Japanese administration and wooed pension funds to partner in India's infrastructure development.

Jaitley, on the second day of his six-day visit to Japan, met Japan's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso to discuss investment opportunities India presents to the Japanese investors.

He held wide-ranging talks with Aso to boost bilateral economic ties, official sources said.

Jaitley also met Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motoo Hayashi on Japan partnership in India's growth story.

He also had separate meetings with Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Yasuhisa Shiozaki and with Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Keiichi Ishii.

Ishii assured to look into Japanese investment in transport and infrastructure sector in India, sources said.

India is seeking investors for its newly announced infrastructure fund NIIF (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund) that is being set up with a corpus of Rs 40,000 crore to finance infrastructure projects, including stalled ones. NIIF will be partly funded by private investors.

The government and public sector entities will hold 49 per cent, with the rest is being offered to multilateral development banks, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and other organisations.

Official sources said the bilateral issues of trade and investment were discussed during Jaitley's meetings here.

Jaitley also met Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Komeito Party of Japan.