Maldives and China engaged in discussions on Thursday, to explore economic cooperation in a post COVID-19 environment
What Trade Patterns Reveal About South Asia’s Economic Future
One of the most striking features of South Asian trade is how little the region trades internally. Intra-regional trade within South Asia remains among the lowest in the world relative to geographic proximity. Political tensions — especially between India and Pakistan — have prevented the emergence of a deeply integrated regional production system comparable to ASEAN or the European Union. This is a major missed opportunity.
The West Asia Conflict: Challenging Times for Indian Economy
Scarcity of cooking fuel is pushing people, particularly across South Asia, toward hunger. Livelihoods have been lost among the large unorganised labour force while thousands of self-employed street vendors, smaller restaurants and eateries are being forced to close shop, facing a scary, insecure future. For middle class households across India, everyday snacks like the samosa or dosa have become scarce because of shortage and high prices of cooking gas cylinders.
New EU Medicines Law Could Impact FTA With India
India is one of the world’s largest suppliers of generic medicines and APIs to Europe. If the EU begins favouring “Made in EU” pharmaceutical production through procurement preferences, subsidies or state aid, Indian drug manufacturers could face reduced access to EU public procurement contracts and tougher supply-chain resilience requirements.
Caught in Geopolitical Quagmire, West Asia Crisis Looms Large Over Indian Supply and Demand Metrics
India’s pharma export market has been affected as India supplies medicines to more than 200 countries. Supply chain interruption not only hurts Indian producers but also creates medicine scarcity in the US, UK, and African markets that highly depend on Indian generics. From the logistics end, re-routing of cargo away from conflict-ridden corridors such as the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz has increased freight insurance premiums, distressing Indian exporters who function on lean cost structures.
More on Geoeconomics, Trade and Development
Sri Lanka cannot alienate other creditors and solve debt problems with only China: Opposition MP
Sri Lanka’s cannot alienate other creditors and solve its debt problem by banking on China alone, with sovereign bond investors now taking about what would happen in the event of a credit event, Harsha de Silva, an opposition legislator said
US appoints special officer for Tibet
A day after President Xi Jinping called on Chinese troops to prepare for war, the United States appointed a senior official as its special coordinator for Tibetan issues
Chinese President XI asks troops to 'put minds and energy on preparing for war'
At a time when the seventh round of India and China military talks to resolve the border disputes in Eastern Ladakh have ended in a deadlock, Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his soldiers, "We must put all our minds and energy on preparing for war."
China says Sri Lanka willing to promote BRI projects
Sri Lanka is willing to make every effort to promote China’s Belt and Road (BRI) projects in the country and Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa publicly refuted the claim that China had set up a debt trap to control Sri Lanka, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday
Sri Lanka, China sign supplementary agreement on water supply, technology cooperation
Sri Lanka and China on Wednesday signed a supplementary agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding on water research and technology cooperation, aimed at providing clean drinking water to several areas of the country, a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said
India, China talks to de-escalate border tensions ends in deadlock
The seventh round of India and China military talks to resolve border disputes in Eastern Ladakh have ended in a deadlock
After Pompeo reveals 60,000 PLA troops along LAC, China calls Ladakh's status illegal
Three days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revealed that China has deployed 60,000 soldiers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) against India, Beijing said that it does not recognise Ladakhs Union Territory (UT) status granted by New Delhi
Sri Lanka would be among first destinations for Chinese tourists after COVID-19, China assures
Upon request from Sri Lanka, China has assured that the Indian Ocean island nation would be among first destinations for Chinese tourists when travels resume after COVID-19 pandemic
Chinese envoy refutes economic minister's comments on FTA
Ambassador of China to Maldives Zhang Lizhong, on Monday, responded to the recent allegations raised by Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail regarding the free trade agreement signed with China during the presidency of Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom
Sri Lanka in talks to obtain USD 700 mn loan from China
Discussions are underway with China to obtain a loan facility of USD 700 million, state minister of money Ajith Nivard Cabraal has said
Rohingya: Dhaka wants Suu Kyi to join talks in Beijing
Bangladesh wants Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be present at a tripartite meeting in Beijing, as proposed by China to discuss Rohingya repatriation issues
Maldives economic minister does not support China-Maldives FTA
The Free Trade Agreement established between Maldives and China during the administration of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom will hinder trade relations with other countries, Maldives’ Economic Minister has stated
Nepali Congress-led team reports Chinese encroachment in Humla
A team led by Nepali Congress lawmaker of Karnali Province Jeevan Bahadur Shahi that returned from an 11-day visit to Nepal-China border in Humla district has accused China of encroaching Nepal’s territory in the district
China grants Sri Lanka $89 million for the well-being of people after high-level visit
China announced Sunday that it was providing a 600 million RMB Yuan ($89.6 million) grant assistance to Sri Lanka for the well-being of Sri Lankan people
