India's Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the country needed to expand trade with the neighbouring countries as in the next ten years it would be among the top manufacturing countries. He, however, did not specify the countries
Making India a Space Power: Not Less Privatisation, but Better-Designed Privatisation
The last thing India needs is a debate in which concerns over public intellectual property become an argument against private participation. The country is already playing catch-up with the major space powers. We cannot afford to let a legitimate debate over ownership and sharing of value become an impediment to the much-needed privatisation of the space sector.
Why Indo-Pacific Must Follow Europe’s Push for Digital Sovereignty and Open-Source Tech Independence
A common BIMSTEC policy statement on digital sovereignty would give the region a clearer collective voice and a stronger negotiating footing with foreign companies. Additionally, BIMSTEC can be used to initiate a shift from U.S. cloud storage companies to regional alternatives such as TATA Communications (India) and NIPA Cloud (Thailand).
The Silicon Buffer: Where Does India and South Asia Sit in the US-China Semiconductor Decoupling?
India is carving out a vital role in the global back-end chip infrastructure. Washington actively views India's rise in this sector as a strategic hedge, codifying tech cooperation through bilateral frameworks designed to shift critical supply lines away from East Asia.
India’s A.I. Future Requires a New Approach to Groundwater Governance
The implications of mismanagement extend far beyond groundwater depletion. Foreign investors have withdrawn a record $30 billion from Indian equities so far in 2026. Regional data suggests investors have relocated their withdrawals across Taiwan and South Korea’s AI and semiconductor ecosystems.
More on AI, Tech and Innovation
Sri Lanka to work with IMF, says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa; asks people to have faith in his actions amid economic hardship
Sri Lanka will seek support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced in a rare speech on Wednesday, where he acknowledged, for the first time, “sufferings” and “difficulties” faced by people as the island country faces one of its worst economic crises
'India's oil purchases from Russia won't violate US sanctions'; media reports talk of 'deep discount' in Russian sales
Accounting for under 3 per cent, Russia is not a major supplier of oil to India, which gets most of it from the Middle East, while the US is also emerging as an important source for energy products
Bangladesh brings 100% population under electricity coverage; joins Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bhutan in South Asia
Dhaka has also been exploring trilateral cooperation in power sectors among India-Bhutan-Bangladesh and Nepal-India-Bangladesh
Bangladesh tops in women’s leadership in listed firms in South Asia
A new study conducted by the International Financial Corporation (IFC) and Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) puts Bangladesh at the top in South Asia when it comes to women’s leadership in listed firms. In 2021, women directors in listed firms were around six percent in comparison to five percent in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world.
India’s expanding energy footprint: Sri Lanka awards two mega renewable power projects to the Adani Group
Sri Lanka last week signed a deal with India’s Adani Group, awarding the latter two mega renewable power projects in the northern part of the country, as Colombo faces its worst power crisis, primarily caused by the foreign exchange crisis, in decades
Ukraine war will have long-lasting impact on emerging economies
Amidst the Ukraine war, Indian exporters are worried about exports and have seen an early trend in declining orders for engineering goods and apparels
India will not experience oil shortage, assures minister
Despite the Russia-Ukraine war that has sent oil prices skyrocketing, there will be no shortage of crude oil in India, even though the country imports the bulk of its energy requirements, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri assured
Sri Lankan finance minister likely to visit India this month amid worsening energy crisis
Indian External Minister S Jaishankar and Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa held a telephonic conversation and the former assured that New Delhi will continue to assist the island country which has been going through perhaps its worst economic crises
India, Bangladesh to work on economic pact
In a further intent of their deepening ties and optimising bilateral connectivty, India and Bangladesh will conduct a joint study on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at a commerce secretary-level talks on Friday, according to an official statement
Poppy cultivation on the rise in southern Afghanistan: 'There is nothing else to cultivate', say farmers
Contrary to the Taliban’s previous assurances on banning poppy cultivation, the group this year seems to be actively encouraging opium production
Sri Lanka staring at an energy disaster; no money for fuel imports
Sri Lankan energy crisis, primarily caused by the severe foreign exchange shortage, has reached a dangerous level this week as the country struggles to manage multiple interlinked crises, forcing authorities to ration both electricity and fuel
Ukraine war to significantly impact tourism, says Maldives tourism minister; pins hopes on China to offset potential loss
The ongoing war in Ukraine will significantly impact the tourism industry, said Maldives’ Tourism Minister Abdullah Mausoom, as tourists from Russia and Ukraine, the two countries at war now, comprise almost 20 percent of the country’s total tourists
Crisis-gripped Sri Lanka to hold talks with IMF and World Bank for assistance
Sri Lankan officials are expected to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank for support as Colombo faces a severe economic crisis, including a shortage of fuel and essentials
Bangladesh to get $300 million from the World Bank to strengthen local governance
The World Bank has approved a proposal to provide $300 million to Bangladesh to help strengthen its local governance against the pandemic shock and make them resilient to future shocks
