Mumbai, Oct. 13 -- Edelweiss Alternatives and Japan Expressway International (JEXWAY) have announced a strategic arrangement to exchange technical expertise and jointly invest in India's transport infrastructure. The partnership is intended to bring Japanese expressway operating practices to Indian highway networks while providing JEXWAY access to the country's infrastructure market.

The arrangement has two components. JEXWAY will make a capital investment in Citius TransNet Investment Trust, which is managed by EAAA TransInfra Managers, an Edelweiss Alternatives entity. JEXWAY will also enter into a long-term technical services exchange with Sekura India Management, Edelweiss Alternatives' asset operations and management platform.

The companies said the collaboration would focus on improving operational practices across highway assets. The agreement combines JEXWAY's experience in expressway investment and management with Edelweiss Alternatives' existing presence in India's roads and wider infrastructure sector.

Edelweiss Alternatives currently manages 4,586 lane km of roads, along with other infrastructure assets. Its fee-paying assets under management total approximately Rs. 486.23 bn. JEXWAY is backed by Japan's major expressway companies and has focused on transport infrastructure investment and management across Southeast Asia.

JEXWAY has previously invested in public-private partnership road projects in Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Executives from both organisations described the arrangement as supporting India's highway expansion, with JEXWAY identifying continued growth in the country's road network as a factor behind its investment in Citius TransNet.

Edelweiss officials said Japanese expertise could support operational upgrades across the firm's existing road portfolio. The partnership therefore combines an investment in an India-focused infrastructure vehicle with an operational cooperation programme covering highway management and technical services.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.