India has asked China to issue visas to students and professionals who have taken Chinese-made coronavirus vaccines, which is one of the travel conditions imposed by Beijing to enter the country amid the pandemic
South Asia's Balance of Payments Challenge: The Changing Dynamics of External Balances in South Asia
South Asia remains one of the least integrated regions in the world despite geographical proximity and complementary economic structures. Greater regional trade, improved transport connectivity, cross-border electricity markets, digital payment systems and investment partnerships could substantially reduce external vulnerabilities.
India's Employment Debate: A Future With Plenty of Work, But Fewer Jobs
Between 2004 and 2023, India produced roughly five million graduates every year, but graduate employment increased by only around 2.8 million annually. Even fewer obtained salaried employment. Millions are either unemployed or working below their qualifications or in the waiting room for the elusive government job.
How Sri Lanka Missed the Opportunity to Become a 200-billion dollar economy
Policy instability during the 2015-2024 likely pushed back Sri Lanka’s path towards becoming South Asia’s first High-Income Country. The 2022 financial crisis would never have happened as stable growth during the first half of 2015–2024 would have built enough buffer to weather impact of the Covid pandemic
When Nations Employ the Expansionary Grammar of Corporate Acquisitions
China’s Belt and Road Initiative - which funded Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port through loans resulting in a 99-year lease to Chinese State-owned enterprise in 2017 due to Colombo’s struggle to service said loans - follows the same expansionary script.
More on Economy, Trade and Development
Chinese national wanted by ATS caught while crossing into India from Bangladesh
A Chinese national has been detained by the border security force, close to the India-Bangladesh border, on Thursday over suspicious activities, officials said
China’s about-turn throws Bangladesh railway projects into jeopardy
Two major railway expansion projects in Bangladesh being implemented with Chinese assistance have become uncertain following disputes over feasibility study and contract prices
Pakistan Army chief discusses Afghanistan, CPEC with Chinese envoy
Nong Rong, Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, and Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javad Bajwa held a meeting where they discussed Afghanistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor among other issues
Pakistan hopes to secure Chinese fund next fiscal for crucial railway project
Pakistan Planning Minister Asad Umar has exuded hope of securing finances for the Mainline-I project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) next fiscal, saying an irritant in finalizing a deal was the Chinese banks’ reluctance to lend new loans
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor now in phase two
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is now officially in its second phase of development, despite speculations that work on the USD 62 billion connectivity project had slowed down
Sri Lankan president invites investors to pump in money in China-backed Colombo Port City
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has invited investors across the world to tap the potential of Chinese-funded Colombo Port City and join a “transformational journey” by investing in the island nation
China's aggressive Indo-Pacific policy: Quad needs to thwart Beijing's designs
If the Quad can thwart China’s attempt to take over Taiwan, it will prove its relevance to the world and send a strong warning against the imperialist agenda of the ‘lovable’ Chinese Communist Party, write Pradeep S. Mehta and Krithika Subramanian for South Asia Monitor
Pakistan PM Imran Khan applauds Chinese President Xi's leadership on climate change
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for the message the latter delivered on World Environment Day, which was hosted by Pakistan this year
Ban Chinese video-sharing apps like Likee and Tik Tok: Bangladesh security force chief
Bangladesh’s elite security battalion chief has recommended a ban on video-sharing apps like Chinese TikTok and Likee as they are being used to “conduct criminal activities”, Dhaka Tribune reported
Indian-American attorney says China must release data on origins of coronavirus
An effective response to tackling the coronavirus is impossible without knowing “exact information” on what makes this virus “tick” and hence it is imperative to investigate the origins of the virus, said Indian American attorney, businessman, author, and philanthropist Dr. Ravi Batra
China upset over disclosure of its vaccine price in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said China is a little upset that the procurement price of Sinopharm vaccine was made public in Bangladesh, The Daily Star reported
Pakistan to give minimum two-year visas to Chinese workers in only 48 hours
Chinese citizens working on various projects in Pakistan will now get new visas for a minimum duration of two years with the permits being handed over within only 48 hours from the time of application, a senior minister said in Islamabad
Colombo archbishop slams Sri Lankan government over China-funded Port City project
Launching a verbal assault on the Sri Lankan government apparently over the China-funded Colombo Port City project, Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo, said the island nation was being dragged down a path of destruction by those who came to power claiming to protect the country
Afghanistan at ‘critical stage’, security situation remains ‘uncertain’: China
Afghanistan has reached a “critical stage” as foreign troops are departing and the country’s security situation remains “uncertain”, the Chinese foreign ministry said after holding the 4th trilateral conference involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China
