Initiative to stimulate conversations for a progressive national ESG framework focussed towards Indian companies and investors

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), a premier global management Institute, will establish the country’s first research chair in ESG in collaboration with the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF), India’s sovereign linked alternative assets manager.

The newly formed ‘NIIF Chair in ESG at IIMA’ will work closely with the Arun Duggal ESG Centre for Research and Innovation at IIMA. It will function as the principal hub of knowledge and insights that allows businesses and policy makers incorporate ESG principles in their long term business and governance decisions.

Some of the activities of the NIIF Chair in ESG at IIMA include –

  • Conducting research on crucial, globally relevant ESG issues
  • Engaging with Industry to create long-term ESG oriented business strategies and practices
  • Acting as a knowledge partner to Government(s) in relation to policy formulation
  • Engaging with international think tanks and agencies to create knowledge and experience sharing opportunities and platforms
We are delighted to set up a Research Chair for ESG with NIIF. The industry is increasingly realizing the importance of recognising and incorporating ESG in their operations. There is a need for extensive research in the area and the designing of a frame of reference that can help Indian companies integrate ESG fundamentals in their business strategies and decisions in the long run. The research chair for ESG will work towards structuring and crafting a strategic roadmap for policy makers, practitioners, and students at the Institute to help plug in gaps in research and development in the area.
Professor Errol D’Souza
Director, IIMA
NIIF believes it is crucial for fund managers to create a sustainable and responsible investment community to unlock significant value for stakeholders as well as the broader society. The setting up of the NIIF Chair in ESG at IIMA will help build an ecosystem of stakeholders and shape the future of adopting best practices in ESG in the country.
We are delighted to collaborate with IIM Ahmedabad in the area of ESG, which is core to our investment and asset management activities and approach. This collaboration complements NIIF’s ability to influence and activate a large ecosystem of infrastructure investors and partners, growing companies of national importance and Indian fund managers, with IIMA’s strong alumni network, rigorous academic approach and research capabilities. As India marches towards its Net Zero goals, we believe that the next leaders of industry will rise from a sound foundation of adopting best-in-class ESG practices. Strengthened by our partnership with IIMA, we hope to lead the conversation and actions around climate preservation and sustainable development.
Mr Sujoy Bose
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, NIIF
The appointment for the ‘NIIF Chair in ESG at IIMA’ position will be initiated through a public announcement inviting applications with details of eligibility criteria and process.
IIMA recently inaugurated the Arun Duggal ESG Centre for Research and Innovation with the objective of establishing a Centre of Excellence to help Indian industries design and implement development strategies that are equally mindful and responsible towards societal prosperity and environment sustainability.
This collaboration between IIMA and NIIF has been facilitated by the IIMA Endowment Fund (IIMA EF) – the institute’s unified fundraising and philanthropic arm that facilitates all donations given to IIMA.
We are delighted to be a part of this process at IIMA. The ‘NIIF Chair in ESG at IIMA’ is a step towards the Institute’s efforts in furthering ESG awareness and consciousness in the Indian business landscape, and at the same time, exploring new and meaningful collaborations with important stakeholders such as the NIIF in the country.
Ms Chhavi Moodgal
CEO, IIMA EF

01 About IIM Ahmedabad

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) is a premier, global management Institute that is at the forefront of promoting excellence in the field of management education. Over the 60 years of its existence, it has been acknowledged for its exemplary contributions to scholarship, practice and policy through its distinctive teaching, high-quality research, nurturing future leaders, supporting industry, government, social enterprise and creating a progressive impact on society.

IIMA was founded as an innovative initiative by the Government, industry and international academia in 1961. Since then it has been consolidating its global footprint and today it has a network with over 80 top international institutions and a presence in Dubai. Its eminent faculty members and 40,000 alumni, who are at the helm of influential positions in all walks of life also contribute to its global recognition.

Over the years, IIMA’s academically superior, market-driven, and socially impactful programmes, have earned high reputation and acclaim globally. It became the first Indian institution to receive international accreditation from EQUIS. The renowned flagship two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is ranked 20th in the FT Master in Management Ranking 2020 and the one-year Post Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPX) has been ranked 48th in the FT Global MBA rankings 2021. The institute also is placed first in the Government of India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), India Rankings 2020. IIMA offers consultancy services and more than 200 curated executive education programmes in customized, blended, and open enrolment formats for a diverse audience comprising of business leaders, policymakers, industry professionals, academicians, government officials, armed forces personnel, agri-business and other niche sector specialists and entrepreneurs. To know more about IIMA, please visit: https://www.iima.ac.in/

02 About NIIF

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF Limited) is a collaborative investment platform for international and Indian investors, anchored by the Government of India. NIIF Limited invests across asset classes such as infrastructure, private equity and other diversified sectors in India, with the objective to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its investors. NIIF Limited thinks long-term, believes in generating returns through efficiently operating its investments through economic cycles, and is committed to sustainable
investing principles. NIIF Limited manages over USD 4.3 billion of capital commitments across its three funds – Master Fund, Fund of Funds and Strategic Opportunities Fund, each with its distinct investment strategy. NIIF Master Fund primarily invests in operating assets in core infrastructure sectors such as transportation and energy. NIIF Fund of Funds invests in funds managed by best-in-class fund managers focused on some of the most dynamic sectors in India such as climate infrastructure, middle-income & affordable housing, digital consumer platforms and other allied sectors. NIIF Strategic Opportunities Fund targets to build large businesses across a broad range of growing sectors which are opportunity long but capital short. For more information and recent updates on NIIF, please visit www.niifindia.in and follow the official LinkedIn channel.

For any media related queries, please contact:

IIMA

Ms Sophia Christina

Email: gm-comm@iima.ac.in

IIMA

Ms Sunitha Aravind

Email: pr@iima.ac.in

Mobile: +91 70690 74816

NIIF

Ms Anita Bhoir

Email: anita.bhoir@adfactorspr.com

Mobile: +91 99303 90055