West Bengal's Economic Transformation

West Bengal's Economic Transformation: A Blueprint for Growth

West Bengal has the resources, talent, culture, and strategic location necessary to become one of India’s most prosperous states. By combining efficient governance, investment-friendly policies, infrastructure development, education, innovation, trade expansion, tourism growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion, the state can achieve rapid economic transformation and substantially raise incomes, employment, and overall quality of life.

India’s Balance-of-Payments Challenge: Need for Structural Transformation in Uncertain Times

India possesses immense talent, entrepreneurial capacity, and a large domestic market, yet it still lacks sufficient depth in high-end manufacturing, research and development, semiconductor ecosystems, advanced engineering, and globally dominant product companies.

What Trade Patterns Reveal About South Asia’s Economic Future

One of the most striking features of South Asian trade is how little the region trades internally. Intra-regional trade within South Asia remains among the lowest in the world relative to geographic proximity. Political tensions — especially between India and Pakistan — have prevented the emergence of a deeply integrated regional production system comparable to ASEAN or the European Union.  This is a major missed opportunity.

The West Asia Conflict: Challenging Times for Indian Economy

Scarcity of cooking fuel is pushing people, particularly across South Asia, toward hunger. Livelihoods have been lost among the large unorganised labour force while thousands of self-employed street vendors, smaller restaurants and eateries are being forced to close shop, facing a scary, insecure future. For middle class households across India, everyday snacks like the samosa or dosa have become scarce because of shortage and high prices of cooking gas cylinders.

More on Geoeconomics, Trade and Development

China needles Bhutan once again over boundary issue

Relentless in its aggression towards its neighbours during the coronavirus pandemic, China has once again staked claim over the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan

Banned Chinese apps told to strictly comply with order: India

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has directed the 59 banned Chinese apps to strictly adhere to the orders or face serious action in case of violation, sources said

Bangladesh vaccine trial: Chinese envoy to be first volunteer

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming will be the first volunteer to take part in the final or phase-3 human trial of a prospective Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Bangladesh

How India can counter China's strategic game plan

China is showcasing its capability and capacity to move on from COVID and to simultaneously engage militarily and provocatively (belligerent actions against 27 immediate and near continental and maritime neighbours) in SCS and ECS, and India, and economical and diplomatic coercion elsewhere, writes Lt Gen P R Kumar (retd) for South Asia Monitor

Work on CPEC projects going on across Pakistan

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman Lt Gen (R) Asim Saleem Bajwa said that work on CPEC projects are going on across the country

Iran-India send first shipment of Afghan goods via Chabahar to China

As Tehran's relationship with Washington remains fidgety, it is walking a tightrope in its bilateral relationships with the US' rival, China and ally, India

Amid border row with China, Indian and US navies carry out drill

Indian and the US navies carried out a swift exercise close to the Andaman and Nicobar islands on Monday as the stand-off between India and China continues for over two months

IAF to get Rafale boost amid India-China standoff

At least five out of the first batch of 36 Rafale fighter aircraft are likely to join the Indian Air Force (IAF) by July end, providing it much-needed muscle amid a depleting fighter strength

Bangladesh approves trials of Chinese firm Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate

Authorities in Bangladesh have approved Stage 3 trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech

PLA troops non-committal about retreat, India keeps a wary eye

Chinese troops have not moved back from the Line of Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in line with the consensus arrived at during the disengagement talks between India and China, sources said on Saturday

India scans Chinese investments with PLA links

While efforts are afoot to normalise Indo-China relations, the ground reality is far from normal

China contract terminated, freight corridor contract to go to Indian firm

Pursuant to Prime Minister Narendra  Modi's 'Self-Reliant India' policy, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation India Ltd will give the work of the signalling on 417 km route of the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor to Indian companies after it terminated the contract with the Chinese firm, officials said on Saturday

'India wants peace but no guarantee of outcome of China talks'

India wants peace but there is no guarantee of the final outcome of talks with China, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday in eastern Ladakh region as he reviewed the ground situation of troops in the hostile border areas

Chinese firms propose setting up of 700MW project for two SEZs

It is the government’s priority to ensure provision of uninterrupted and affordable energy to industries, remarked Minister of State and Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Atif R Bokhari

China Welcomes Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade Resumption

China has applauded the resumption of trade relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan after land crossings between the two neighboring countries were opened following a temporary closure under the COVID-19 crisis