Critical Minerals

Critical Minerals: The New Oil of the 21st Century?

Critical minerals are not literally the new oil, but they may play a comparable role in defining the balance of power. The race has already begun, and India’s preparedness will determine whether it merely secures access to the resources of the new century or helps shape the industrial order that emerges from them.

Trade Pivot Weakens Pakistan’s Grip on Afghanistan, as Others Move in

Afghanistan has sought to limit or reduce its structural vulnerability by moving trade through Iran’s Chabahar Port and Central Asian corridors. Kabul is realigning Afghanistan’s external economic geography by looking towards Iran, Central Asia, China and India.

India's Sugar Economy and Ethanol Politics: The Demand-Supply Imbalance Threatens to Mar Festival Season

The current rise in Indian sugar prices is the result of several factors rather than ethanol alone. Lower-than-expected production—from an initial estimate of 343 LMT to about 306 LMT—is central to the supply concern. Weather damage, disease, festival demand, global prices and market speculation have added to the pressure.

Can Iran's Chabahar Help Turkiye and India do Business?

Chabahar will not transform Türkiye–India relations. It can, however, show whether two countries with serious political disagreements are capable of making one difficult commercial route work.

More on Economy, Trade and Development

India thwarts fresh transgression by China at Pangong Lake

India has thwarted China's provocative military movements to change the status quo at the Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh

Pakistan buys China's Jilin-1 satellite data

Pakistan has purchased from China real-time satellite data, comprising high definition video, optical and hyperspectral imagery, that also can provide it the precise position of Indian Army camps across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir

Sri Lanka sea reclamation project’s China affiliates on US export blacklist

The United States has placed several subsidiaries of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the ultimate parent of China Harbhour Engineering which building an artificial city extending Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, on an export blacklist

India opts out from Russian military exercise where China, Pakistan participating

Amid a hostile situation on its borders with China and Pakistan, India HAS decided not to take part in a multilateral strategic command post exercise in Russia next month in which its two hostile neighbors were also participating

US imposes sanctions on Colombo Port City builders and other Chinese companies

The US has imposed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies–including the builders of Colombo Port City–making it illegal for American companies to export products to these entities without a Government licence

Sri Lanka eyes more exports to China, mulls re-activating FTA talks

Sri Lanka is eying more exports to China in the Covid-19 era by participating in an import fair in the country and also reactivating talks on a proposed free trade deal, the Indian Ocean Island’s state export promotion agency said

China builds 5G infra along LAC, fresh construction at Pangong Tso

As India and China continue to be in a border-dispute deadlock, Beijing has started laying fibre optics cables and installing other equipment for fifth-generation wireless technology -- commonly known as 5G -- along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)

US imposes visa ban on Chinese people responsible for occupation of South China Sea

The US has imposed a visa ban on members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, People's Liberation Army (PLA) and some state-owned businesses responsible for the occupation and militarization of the disputed South China Sea

China fired two deadly missiles ahead of US visa ban

Just before the US imposed a visa ban on Chinese government members in response to the militarization of the South China Sea, Beijing had fired two missiles, including an 'aircraft-carrier killer', into the disputed sea

Pakistan-China coziness sees rising intensity

The proximity between Pakistan and China seems to be increasing with every passing week as Islamabad is opening every door for China, banking on the projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiation (BRI) for its economic and financial revival

Sri Lanka to expand cooperation in trade and tourism with Southern China

Sri Lanka is exploring the opportunities to expand cooperation in diverse areas focusing on trade and tourism with Hainan Province in Southern China

Pakistan miraculously overcomes virus, says Chinese envoy

Chinese Ambassaor Yao Jing has said Pakistan has miraculously overcome COVID-19 adding Pakistan govt led by Prime Minister Imran Khan needs full credit for this

China asks Pakistan to open five key borders with Afghanistan

As ways are being paved towards peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghanistan government, China is calling on Pakistan to open its five key border crossings with Afghanistan to allow bilateral and transit trade of Afghan exports to India

PM Imran Khan asks Chinese businesses to establish offices in Pakistan

Emphasising the need for more cooperation between China and Pakistan in all fields, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday asked Chinese entrepreneurs to establish their regional offices in Pakistan

If talks fail with China, then military options on table: India's CDS

India's Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said on Monday that if diplomatic talks with China over the border issue fail, then military options are on the table