Singapore: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met senior executives of leading global investment funds, banks and companies in Singapore on October 10, 2026, to discuss opportunities for expanding long-term investment in India across infrastructure, financial services, healthcare, renewable energy and manufacturing.
The meetings formed part of Sitharaman’s official visit to Singapore from October 9 to 11, aimed at strengthening economic ties and attracting global institutional and private capital to support India’s development priorities.
The discussions covered India’s long-term growth prospects, the evolving investment environment and opportunities for international investors to participate in sectors expected to play an important role in the country’s economic expansion.
Among those who met the finance minister were senior representatives of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, investment company Temasek Holdings, private equity firm TPG, healthcare group IHH Healthcare, Wellington Management, DBS Group, Standard Chartered Bank and British International Investment.
The Ministry of Finance said the meetings were intended to explore investment opportunities and strengthen engagement between international investors and Indian businesses and institutions.
GIC and Temasek discuss India’s growth prospects
Sitharaman met Lim Chow Kiat, chief executive officer of GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, to discuss India’s long-term growth prospects and the role of institutional investors in supporting infrastructure development and other growth-oriented sectors, including financial services.
She also met Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, CEO of Temasek Holdings, to explore opportunities to expand investments in India. Infrastructure and other sectors aligned with the country’s growth prospects featured in the discussions, including possible investment channels through the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
GIC and Temasek are significant institutional investors with investments across the Indian economy. Their participation is relevant to India’s efforts to attract patient capital for projects that require substantial funding and may generate returns over an extended period.
Long-term institutional investment can help finance infrastructure, expand businesses and support the development of industries that require considerable upfront capital. For investors, India offers opportunities across a range of sectors, although individual investment decisions depend on commercial prospects, risks and regulatory conditions.
Sitharaman also held discussions with Jim Coulter, executive chairman and founding partner of private equity firm TPG, on India’s growth outlook and the potential role of private capital in the country’s expanding investment landscape.
Healthcare infrastructure among investment priorities
Healthcare was another important area covered during the finance minister’s meetings.
Sitharaman met Prem Nair, CEO of IHH Healthcare, and Ashok Pandit, the group’s chief commercial officer, to discuss opportunities for expanding investment in India’s healthcare sector.
The discussions focused on hospital infrastructure and capacity expansion, with the broader objective of strengthening access to quality healthcare.
India’s healthcare sector offers investment opportunities in hospitals, medical infrastructure and related services. Expanding capacity requires capital for facilities, equipment, technology and trained personnel. Investment in these areas can support the delivery of healthcare services as demand grows.
However, the ministry’s account of the meeting did not announce a specific investment commitment or disclose the value of any proposed projects. The discussions were focused on identifying opportunities rather than confirming new funding.
Wellington Management highlights policy reforms
Sitharaman also met Janet Perumal, senior managing director and head of investments for Asia at Wellington Management.
Their discussions covered opportunities for international investors to participate in India through GIFT International Financial Services Centre (GIFT IFSC) and the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Wellington Management appreciated India’s policy reforms, including changes relating to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), liberalisation of foreign direct investment rules and disinvestment.
GIFT IFSC, located in Gujarat’s GIFT City, is designed to facilitate international financial services and cross-border transactions. It provides a platform through which eligible global financial institutions and investors can undertake permitted activities under the applicable regulatory framework.
The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, meanwhile, provides a route for mobilising investment into Indian infrastructure and related opportunities.
Both platforms can help connect international capital with investment opportunities in India. Their effectiveness will depend on investor participation, the availability of suitable projects and the commercial and regulatory conditions governing investments.
DBS and Standard Chartered discuss financial connectivity
Financial services and infrastructure financing featured prominently in Sitharaman’s meeting with DBS Group CEO Tan Su Shan, Han Kwee Juan, head of the institutional banking group at DBS, and Rajat Verma, CEO of DBS India.
The discussions examined India’s evolving financial landscape and opportunities to expand financing for economic growth and infrastructure development.
The two sides also exchanged views on India-Singapore cooperation in financial connectivity, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), semiconductors and renewable energy. They discussed the potential to use the Gold Bullion Exchange and GIFT City to encourage greater participation by global investors in India.
The MSME sector is particularly important to India’s economy because smaller businesses contribute to employment, manufacturing and services. Access to finance remains essential for these enterprises to expand operations, improve productivity and enter new markets.
In a separate meeting, Sitharaman met Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, to discuss trade finance, cross-border banking and international financial flows.
The discussions also covered tax and regulatory frameworks that could support wider adoption of artificial intelligence, along with opportunities to establish or expand treasury centres at GIFT IFSC.
Trade finance and cross-border banking services can help businesses manage international payments, working capital and transactions involving overseas suppliers and customers. Strengthening these channels could support India’s expanding engagement with global markets.
British International Investment focuses on climate finance
Sitharaman’s meeting with Leslie Maasdorp, CEO of British International Investment (BII), accompanied by Srini Nagarajan, managing director and head of Asia, focused on mobilising long-term capital.
The discussions covered investment opportunities in renewable energy, electric mobility, financial services, manufacturing and infrastructure.
The two sides also examined how artificial intelligence could improve productivity and strengthen supply chains. Blended finance was discussed as a potential means of supporting climate adaptation, resilience and sustainable agriculture.
Blended finance combines different sources of funding, potentially including public or development finance alongside private investment, to help projects attract capital where risks or expected returns may otherwise limit participation.
Such financing structures can be relevant to climate-related projects, which may require substantial initial investment and deliver economic or environmental benefits over a long period.
The discussions did not establish that new investments had been finalised, but they identified sectors and financing approaches that could form part of future engagement.
Singapore remains a key investment partner
Sitharaman’s meetings took place against the backdrop of Singapore’s substantial role in India’s foreign investment landscape.
According to the Ministry of Finance, Singapore was India’s largest source of foreign direct investment, with cumulative inflows of approximately $194.68 billion between April 2000 and March 2026.
The finance minister’s visit also included high-level engagements with Singapore’s political leadership and a roundtable with hedge fund and portfolio fund managers. The wider agenda covered trade and investment, digital financial connectivity, capital markets, taxation, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, skilling and aviation.
The government said it would work with relevant ministries and industry bodies to connect interested Singaporean investors with Indian companies, financial institutions and state governments, while providing support to take identified opportunities forward.
The outcome of the investment drive will ultimately depend on whether the discussions lead to concrete projects, financing agreements and sustained capital flows.
For India, attracting long-term global investment remains important for expanding infrastructure, strengthening manufacturing, improving healthcare capacity and supporting emerging sectors. Sitharaman’s meetings in Singapore underline the government’s effort to deepen economic partnerships and translate investor interest into opportunities for growth.