The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has suspended sales tax registration of a Chinese energy company after it failed to produce purchase invoices, media reports said
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
People have become casual, PM Modi on Covid resurgence
A Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker Asad Qaiser, was turned back from Kabul on Thursday as their plane was refused landing permission citing “security reasons, media reports say
Nepal starts inoculating essential workers with Chinese vaccines
Nepal on Wednesday started inoculating essential workers using the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines, reported the Kathmandu Post
11th India-China military level talks on LAC likely on April 9
The 11th round of India-China military-level talks will take place on April 9 in which issues like friction at Gogra-Hot Springs, restoring the pre-April 2020 status quo ante, long-standing patrolling issues at Depsang Bulge due to friction in the area during the 2013 stand-off with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are likely to be discussed, a Hindustan Times report said referring sources
Pakistan considers granting two-year visa extension to Chinese nationals
The Pakistani government is considering the possibility of granting a two-year visa extension to Chinese nationals working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in the country, reported the Express Tribune
Use of Chinese vaccines in Sri Lanka questioned
Opposition parties in Sri Lanka have questioned the manner in which the Sri Lankan government has approved the use of the Chinese vaccines in the island nation, reported Colombopage
India seeks military disengagement at all friction points in eastern Ladakh with China for ties' improvement
India called on China to withdraw troops from all friction points in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and asserted that the disengagement alone will ease tension in the border areas
Sri Lanka to receive Chinese Sinopharm vaccine on 31 March
Sri Lanka is likely to get 600,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines from China on 31 March, reported Daily Mirror
Quad ‘democracies’ will hold Chinese ‘autocracy’ accountable for its actions: Biden
The Quad summit “got the Chinese attention” on their seriousness in holding Beijing accountable for its actions in the Indo-Pacific region, according to US President Joe Biden
Myanmar turmoil no hurdle for India in completing strategic Kaladan project
India has expedited work on its ambitious road infrastructure project -- Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project -- that opens a gateway to Southeast Asian countries in an attempt to counter the growing influence of China in the region
India's China policy needs change; build alliances, leverage democracy, suggests think tank
India's stance on China has to irreversibly change in the light of the recent developments, both bilateral and global
Sri Lanka signs $1.5 billion currency swap deal with China
In what seems a temporary respite for Sri Lanka’s dwindling forex reserve, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has signed a $1.5 billion currency swap agreement with China, reported Colombopage
Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka to get priority vaccination
Authorities in Sri Lanka will administer the Chinese-made Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines first to Chinese nationals living in the country
US, India to expand defence and security cooperation - with China in mind
As part of expanding global security cooperation between the world's oldest and largest democracies, India will intensify military cooperation with the US Central Command in Florida and with the US Commands in the Indo-Pacific region and Africa
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in Delhi to discuss ‘pressing’ Indo-Pacific 'challenges'
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived here on Friday for discussions on cooperating to face “most pressing challenges” in the Indo-Pacific, an euphemism for China’a maritime muscle-flexing in the region
