AustralianSuper Chief Executive Officer Paul Schroder on 9 July said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's long-term economic vision and his grasp of business and investing have strengthened global investor confidence in India. The remarks came as Australia's largest pension fund announced an additional $500 million (Australian dollar) investment in India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), lifting its total India exposure across all asset classes to $3.3 billion.

What Schroder Said About Modi

Schroder, who has met Prime Minister Modi on earlier occasions, described the interactions as reassuring. 'I've had the chance to meet with PM Modi before, and he's always assured me that he understands business, he understands investing, and he thinks in the very long term about the prosperity of India and making sure that investors have a stable policy setting and a good forward outlook,' Schroder said. He added: 'So I've been very impressed with the way he engages with business.'

The comments reflect a broader sentiment among institutional investors who have pointed to policy consistency and infrastructure focus as key draws for long-term capital into India.

The $500 Million NIIF Investment

The fresh commitment was announced on the sidelines of the Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit in Melbourne, where Prime Minister Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese jointly addressed the Australia-India CEOs Forum and the Economic Roadmap Business event. It follows AustralianSuper's initial $240 million (Australian dollar) investment in the NIIF in 2019, which the fund has described as one of its best-performing infrastructure investments.

Schroder framed the additional capital as a dual-benefit play. 'That will provide a great opportunity for AustralianSuper members to earn a proper return over time and for investments to happen in infrastructure which will help Indian communities and Indian people wherever they are,' he said.

Modi Welcomes the Announcement

Prime Minister Modi welcomed the investment, saying it reflected global confidence in India's growth and reform trajectory. In a post on X, he said the fresh commitment demonstrated the 'immense opportunities India's rapidly growing economy offers to long-term global investors.'

People-to-People Ties and Economic Cooperation

Schroder also highlighted the broader significance of the CEOs Forum. 'One of the great things about the CEO Forum today was talking about the great strengths of the relationship between the Australian people and the Indian people, and how important it is for us to continue to learn from each other and continue to improve,' he said.

The summit and investment announcement signal deepening institutional engagement between the two countries at a time when India is aggressively courting long-term foreign capital for its infrastructure buildout. With the NIIF positioned as a flagship vehicle for such inflows, AustralianSuper's expanded commitment is likely to be cited as a reference case for other sovereign and pension funds evaluating India exposure.