Blackstone has launched an Asia-Pacific infrastructure platform and hired former KKR executive Ami Momaya to lead its infrastructure business in India, marking the firm’s first dedicated infrastructure appointment in the region as it seeks to expand investments in one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets.
Momaya joins as managing director and head of infrastructure for India after serving as a managing director at KKR India. She previously held senior investment roles at India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund and spent 17 years at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, where she helped establish the bank’s infrastructure investing business in the country.
The appointment signals Blackstone’s intent to build out its infrastructure investing capabilities in Asia Pacific, where it has so far been best known for private equity and real estate investments.
The move comes as global alternative asset managers increase their focus on infrastructure across Asia, particularly in digital infrastructure, power and transportation, amid rising demand for capital to support economic growth and artificial intelligence-related investments. Blackstone’s newest Asia franchise will be competing against KKR and Stonepeak’s funds for Asia infrastructure, which are among the largest funds with that strategy.
Blackstone Infrastructure Partners manages about $84 billion in assets globally and invests across the energy, transportation, digital infrastructure, and water and waste sectors. In Asia Pacific, its investments include AirTrunk, the data centre operator it acquired last year in one of the region’s largest digital infrastructure transactions.
Sean Klimczak, Blackstone’s global head of infrastructure, said the firm continues to see “significant opportunities” across Asia Pacific and that establishing a regional platform would enable it to deploy the firm’s global infrastructure expertise and long-term capital across the region.
