Blackstone to double India investments, CEO Schwarzman says

Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, plans to expand its investments in infrastructure and credit, according to chief executive officer (CEO) Stephen Schwarzman. The firm currently manages about $50 billion in assets in India, and plans to increase this to $100 billion over the next few years.

Schwarzman, who is in Mumbai to mark Blackstone’s 20th anniversary in India, talked about the country’s strong economic fundamentals.

“We look at the fundamentals in the country. It has excellent stability and political leadership. Regulations have eased since we first started here. India has a very vigorous population, full of young people. There is a strong preference for technology. So, we are very positive on the country. It is great to be back,” he told CNBCTV18.

In India, Blackstone has largely focused on real estate and private equity investments. However, it now plans to enter in at least three new verticals, including infrastructure and credit.

The firm is looking to invest in ports, airports, and road assets, as well as corporate credit, while also distributing its investment products to wealthy clients in India. However, no specific timeline has been provided for these initiatives.

About the impact of US tariffs on India, Schwarzman said that the country is well-positioned to handle these challenges.

“I think India is quite well placed,” he said, referring to the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US leadership last month.

Blackstone entered the Indian market in 2005 and has since invested in 27 companies and acquired 16 others.

Its recent investments include funding software firms such as ThoughtFocus, R Systems, CMS IT Services, and Monnet Ispat & Energy. Its latest acquisition was Roop Automotives in December.

Despite concerns over India’s recent economic slowdown, Schwarzman said he was optimistic about the country’s long-term growth.

“I think the real economy from a long-term basis in India is excellent, and the overall growth rates here have been to the top in the world,” he said.

Schwarzman also suggested that reducing bureaucratic hurdles could further improve India’s overall investment climate.