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 says ‘no third party’ can derail strong Sri Lanka-China ties

In a veiled reference to India, China has said “no third party” can derail its strong ties with Sri Lanka, hours after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded his visit to Colombo

Maldives and Sri Lanka seek debt structuring during Wang Yi’s visit

Sri Lanka and the Maldives, two of China’s close developmental partners in South Asia, have sought debt restructuring when  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded his five-nation tour that included the two South Asia countries

With China's help, sea cucumber farming finds popularity among Sri Lankan fishermen

Sea cucumber farming is slowly becoming popular in the northern part of Sri Lanka where over 600 fishermen are currently involved in the lucrative trade

ISRO's deals with Chinese companies are a security hazard

Security analysts are baffled how an agreement between ISRO and Oppo India has been signed as it greatly increases the security risk for India

PM Imran Khan launches Pak-China Business investment forum to fast-track investments

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched the Pakistan-China Business Investment Forum to fast-track project approvals and investment proposals from Chinese investors

Sri Lanka looks to China to revive its embattled tourism industry

Sri Lanka has been looking to Chinese tourists, considered the world’s largest spending tourists, to revive its struggling tourism industry as Sri Lankan officials and airlines hold discussions with leading Chinese group tour operators

Chinese ire over Indian MPs, minister meeting exiled Tibetan leaders

A week after a group of Indian parliamentarians, including a minister in the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attended a dinner reception hosted by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi expressed “concern” over their participation and asked them in separate letters to “refrain from providing support to the ‘Tibetan independence’ forces”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Sri Lanka, Maldives in January

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Sri Lanka and the Maldives early January, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian confirmed, as Beijing seeks to enhance its influence in the region, considered as India's backyard

Chinese envoy's visit to Tamil-dominated northern Sri Lanka sparks curiosity, concern in India

The Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka visit to the Northern region of Sri Lanka, during which he travelled to Jaffna and Mannar and the northernmost point of the island at Point Pedro, has raised curiosity, and concern

China: Contextualizing the duality in actions

China never accepts deadlines on resolving disputes; in the decades to come it's going to be a hostile coexistence for India and China, write Pradeep S. Mehta and Sandra George for South Asia Monitor 

Maldives vice president meets Chinese ambassador in Male, reaffirms ‘One-China’ policy

Maldives Vice President Ahmed Naseem met the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Male, Wang Lixin, and reaffirmed the archipelago’s firm support for the “One-China” policy

After months-long tussle, Sri Lanka finally buys fertilizer from Chinese firm

Sri Lanka has now agreed to take delivery of organic fertilizer from China’s Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd, almost two months after Colombo had rejected its shipment, citing poor standards, forcing the firm to initiate arbitration proceedings

Sino-Indian border ‘generally stable'; dialogue on, says China

The situation at the China-India border is “generally stable” and both sides are maintaining dialogue and communication through diplomatic and military channels to ease the border situation following the standoff at eastern Ladakh, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday

ADB blacklists three Chinese firms from Nepal’s key infrastructure projects; Kathmandu airport extension to be impacted

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has blacklisted three Chinese state-owned firms from participating in its key infrastructure projects, including the Kathmandu airport development project, in Nepal

China warns companies blindly visiting Afghanistan for mineral exploration as foreigners arrested in several Afghan provinces

China has warned its companies and nationals on Friday against "blindly" visiting  Afghanistan to inspect mineral resources after multiple reports emerged of foreigners being arrested without exploration permits in several provinces