Luxury apartments and slums in Colombo

Growth of Underground Economy and Rising Income Disparity is a Social Concern in Sri Lanka

In 2025, Sri Lanka was ranked as the second most expensive housing market in the world based on rentals compared to average income. It is possible that market distortions caused by black economy and corruption have contributed to this. 

From Infrastructure to Investment: Building West Bengal’s Next Growth Cycle

The larger opportunity before West Bengal is therefore not another round of infrastructure creation in isolation. It is the creation of an ecosystem in which infrastructure, private capital, local enterprise and skilled labour reinforce one another. 

Did BRICS Help Thaw India-China Ties? Need to Convert Broken Ice into a Workable Business Relationship

Why not begin by reopening serious discussions with Chinese conglomerate BYD about an Indian factory? BYD is now one of the world’s dominant EV manufacturers. Its Indian ambitions were caught in the post-Galwan investment freeze. Invite it back to the table—but on Indian terms

The Real Test for BRICS: More Choices for South Asia, or Just New Dependencies?

But the choice test applies to India as much as to the countries it hopes will follow its lead. If BRICS genuinely widens India's menu of markets, technology partners and financing sources without deepening its dependence on any one of them, it becomes a credible model for the rest of the Global South.

More on Geoeconomics, Trade and Development

China 500K COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal

China has announced that it will provide half a million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal

Sri Lanka showing signs of falling deep into Chinese trap

A U-turn on the Colombo port's East Container Terminal and then an attempt to create negativity around the India-supplied COVID-19 vaccine signals that there could be more powerful forces than just mere trade unions and some local groups which are nudging Sri Lanka to adopt an aggressive stand against India right now

Nepali traders acuse China of imposing ‘undeclared blockade’

Nepali traders have accused China of conducting an 'undeclared trade blockade' as their merchandise-laden container trucks have not been allowed to cross the border into Nepal for the past 16 months

New leap of Chinese economy beneficial for China-Pakistan cooperation

At the beginning of 2021, there comes encouraging news from China. According to the preliminary calculation of the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China’s GDP in 2020 reached 101.6 trillion yuan (around 14.7 trillion USD), increased by 2.3% from 2019. For the first time, China's GDP exceeded the 100-trillion-yuan threshold?achieving a historic leap

Was the military coup in Myanmar to forestall China?

The Myanmar army may not be comfortable with the manner in which the NLD has given in to China for the China-Myanmar-Economic Corridor (CMEC), which is an invitation for the People’s Liberation Army to establish in Myanmar, like Pakistan, including Chinese marines posted at Kyaukphyu port like in Gwadar of Pakistan, writes Lt Gen Prakash Katoch (retd) for South Asia Monitor 

Chinese hand behind scuttling of ECT port deal?

A day after the Sri Lanka government decided to operate the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Colombo Port locally after tremendous pressure from trade unions, India seems to see a Chinese hand in orchestrating and funding the protests against the ECT deal by the trade unions in Sri Lanka

Pakistan government bulldozes CPEC Authority bill through National Assembly

Helped by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, the government on Monday hurriedly passed three bills, including the one seeking establishment of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, amid ruckus by the opposition members

Chinese vaccine yet to get approval in Nepal

China has decided to provide a coronavirus vaccine to Nepal but it is still unclear how long it will take for the consignment to arrive, as the product is yet to get emergency use approval in the country

Pakistan receives first batch of Chinese Covid vaccines

Pakistan on Monday received the first batch of China's Sinopharm vaccine against the novel coronavirus

China to send 300,000 doses of Covid vaccine to Nepal

China will be sending 300,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine to Nepal, ten days after India sent one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine there, marking the launch of nationwide inoculation drive in the Himalayan country

Bangladeshi peacekeepers rescue 32 Chinese workers in Central African Republic

Bangladesh peacekeepers have rescued 32 Chinese gold mine workers in the Central African Republic (CAR) from an attack by armed rebels

China has deployed me to crush Baloch movement says Pakistani general

Major General Ayman Bilal of the Pakistan Army has confessed to China's role and support in his deployment in Balochistan, Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Sun has reported

Pakistan gets second advanced warship from China

China on Friday launched a second advanced warship for Pakistan Navy, Dawn reported

Pakistan to get help from China in improving agriculture sector: PM Imran Khan

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the country is expected to get help from China in its efforts to improve the agriculture sector under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Special Pakistani plane to bring vaccine from China: official

Pakistan's Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan has said a special plane would be flown to China in the next couple of days for transportation of the first tranche of Covid-19 vaccine