South Asia Money

How the Money Moves: The Velocity Challenge in South Asia's Growth Story

As South Asia seeks to become one of the principal engines of global growth in the twenty-first century, velocity may emerge as one of the most important indicators of economic vitality. The countries that prosper most will not necessarily be those that create the most money, but those that use it most effectively.

Growing Salience of BIMSTEC : Reconnecting the Bay of Bengal Civilisation Through Trade and Connectivity

If the twentieth century was shaped by the Atlantic and the early twenty-first century witnessed the rise of the Pacific, the coming decades may well belong to the Bay of Bengal. The foundations of that future will not be built solely through trade agreements or infrastructure projects. They will emerge from a shared commitment to connectivity, cooperation and civilisational understanding.

West Bengal's Economic Transformation: A Blueprint for Growth

West Bengal has the resources, talent, culture, and strategic location necessary to become one of India’s most prosperous states. By combining efficient governance, investment-friendly policies, infrastructure development, education, innovation, trade expansion, tourism growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion, the state can achieve rapid economic transformation and substantially raise incomes, employment, and overall quality of life.

India’s Balance-of-Payments Challenge: Need for Structural Transformation in Uncertain Times

India possesses immense talent, entrepreneurial capacity, and a large domestic market, yet it still lacks sufficient depth in high-end manufacturing, research and development, semiconductor ecosystems, advanced engineering, and globally dominant product companies.

More on Geoeconomics, Trade and Development

Nepal Communist Party's virtual meet with Chinese Communist Party draws flak

Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and chief of party’s Training Department Ishwar Pokharel were among 100 NCP leaders who took part in a meeting with leaders of ruling Communist Party of China via video conferencing

Ladakh standoff may persist for much longer

The standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh region in the last one-and-a-half months is likely to fester for longer than any other such faceoffs in recent years, and could surpass the 73-day conflict in Doklam in 2017

Modi government's response to China will be calibrated, not impulsive

The Narendra Modi government is unlikely to take any rash decision despite the recent military aggression by China over the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which left 20 Indian soldiers killed and over a billion Indians seething in anger

Ladakh faceoff: Indian Air Force put on high alert

The Indian Air Force has been on high alert across Northern and Western borders with Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria visiting the forward location bases in Leh and Srinagar to see the preparedness on the ground

Bound by agreements, Indian soldiers did not use firearms against Chinese troops

The 20 Indian soldiers killed in the violent stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Galwan Valley of Ladakh, did not use the firearms they were carrying as per the two bilateral agreements between India and China

Top Indian CEOs of Chinese phone brands get trolled on Twitter

Amid border tensions with China and a growing chorus for boycotting Chinese goods, top Indian executives of some of the most popular phone brands like Xiaomi and Realme have found themselves in hot water every time they tweet to promote their upcoming or existing products

US stands by India in its face-off with China in Ladakh

The US on Friday made it clear that it stood by India in the stand-off with China along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh where Chinese aggression led to the killing of 20 Indian soldiers

Nepalese and Chinese communist parties to hold virtual interaction

Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leaders will be participating in an event being organised jointly by the party’s school department, and the international liaison department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Friday

China gives 97 percent duty-free access to Bangladeshi products

China has given 97 percent duty-free access to a listed number of Bangladeshi products in the Chinese market

Indian soldiers were 'outnumbered' by the Chinese at Galwan Valley

Indian and Chinese military talks at Galwan Valley in the wake of the violent clashes along the Line of Control in Eastern Ladakh region ended with a slight positive trajectory Thursday though nothing has moved on the ground

Pakistan government sets conditions to share Gwadar deal

Pakistan's Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Thursday refused to share the Gwadar Port concession agreement with parliament, citing a confidentiality clause – a move that raised more questions in the minds of senators about transparency of the deal

COVID-19 entered Beijing through “European salmon” consignment- Chinese Envoy in Sri Lanka

Acting Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Hu Wei told President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, COVID-19 had made its way into Beijing recently through a consignment of salmon from Europe and not from person to person transmission

China asks India not to underestimate its will

A day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned China against aggression, Beijing asked New Delhi not to "misjudge" the situation or "underestimate" its will

Anti-China sentiments will hit Digital India plan

As the chorus to shun Chinese goods grows across the country, India, which saw exponential growth in smartphone manufacturing from just two factories a couple of years back to nearly 258 now with billions of dollars investment and lakhs of direct and indirect jobs being created, stands to lose its Digital India dream if things get out of control from here on

Uncertainty, nervousness in Leh as standoff continues at LAC

As we move out of the Leh Airport on Thursday, we notice that an eerie silence has gripped the town -- the markets are shut and not many people are on the streets due to the coronavirus pandemic