The US has congratulated Penpa Tsering after he was elected as the next Sikyong/President of Dharamshala-based Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)
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
US rights body reiterates calls on China for release of 11th Panchen Lama
US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Friday asked the Chinese government to reveal the whereabouts of Tibetan Buddhism's 11th Panchen Lama
China donates 18000 oxygen cylinders to crisis-hit Nepal
Nepal, which has been hit hard by the second wave of COVID-19, received around 18,000 empty oxygen cylinders from China, The Himalayan Times said. The cylinders came in form of grant assistance from Nepal’s northern neighbor
No blame game required in Chinese vaccine approval: Bangladesh FM
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said there was no need to start a blame game over the delay in approving the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm vaccine and said his country has followed its regulations in peoples’ interest
US-led Quad an effort to sow discord between China and regional nations, says Beijing
Continuing its criticism of the US-led Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, better known as Quad, Beijing has said it was opposed to any efforts to sow discord between regional countries and China
Chinese ambassador blames Quad remark on ‘failing’ of English language
Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming called on Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and explained his recent remarks on Dhaka-Beijing ties if Bangladesh joined Quad
CPEC hydropower project 88 percent complete
Work on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) first hydropower project is now 88 percent complete, its top official said
Bangladesh receives 500,000 doses of Chinese Sinopharm vaccines
Bangladesh received 500,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday from China, reported The Daily Star
“We decide our foreign policy”: Bangladesh responds to Chinese threat over Quad
Bangladesh is an independent, sovereign country and we decide our own foreign policy, said Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momin, in response to what seemed like a threatening comment by the Chinese envoy over Quad
Bangladesh won’t get commercial supply of Chinese vaccine so soon, says ambassador
Bangladesh will have to wait for some time to get the first commercial supply of Covid 19 vaccines from China, according to Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jiming
China warns of damage to bilateral ties if Bangladesh joins Quad
China has warned Bangladesh that their bilateral ties would be "substantially damaged" if Dhaka participated in any form in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, better known as Quad
Circular debt hits CPEC projects
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) power projects have been affected by circular debt and the Pakistani government has not been able to clear Rs 188 billion due payments in breach of a bilateral energy framework agreement, media reports said
China to create 'line of separation' on Mount Everest over COVID-19 fear in Nepal
As the Everest base camp in Nepal reported several COVID-19 cases, China has decided to create a “line of separation” at the summit to prevent climbers from COVID-19 hit Nepal from mingling with those from the Chinese side
China 'working closely' for co-production of Covid vaccine in Sri Lanka
China has said it was working closely with Sri Lankan authorities to encourage collaboration among biotech companies of the two countries to produce a covid vaccine in the island nation
China reluctant to approve loan to Pakistan citing mounting debt
Expressing concern over Pakistan’s growing debt, China has shown reluctance to approve USD 6 billion loan for the Mainline-I (ML-I) railway track -- the single largest project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor -- according to the record of a meeting and senior Pakistani officials, Express Tribune reported
