China has given 97 percent duty-free access to a listed number of Bangladeshi products in the Chinese market
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
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
DFCCIL terminates Rs 471 cr tender with Chinese firm
Amid the India-China border standoff in Ladakh's Galwan Valley where 20 Indian soldiers were killed by Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) including an officer, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd (DFCCIL)has decided to terminate the tender worth Rs 471 crore with the Beijing National Railway Research and Design Institute of Signal and Communication Group Company Limited (BNRRDISC) due to non-performance, sources said on Thursday
Sri Lanka approves billion-dollar tower block by China in Colombo Port City
Sri Lanka has approved a billion US dollar mixed development tower block project in Colombo Port City, where the sea has been reclaimed by a Chinese company at a cost of 1.7 billion dollars, ministers said. “The Cabinet has approved Sri Lanka’s largest mixed development project,” Cabinet spokesman said
Chinese woman envoy 'inspired' PM Oli to redraw Nepal map
Even as border clashes between India and China escalate geopolitical tensions in the subcontinent, the pro-China government in Nepal seems to be in no mood to budge from its position on redrawing the country's map
India-China military talks end in stalemate, dialogue to continue
Indian and Chinese military talks at Galwan Valley over the violent clash along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh ended in a stalemate on Wednesday
Tender for 5.6 km tunnel to Chinese firm 'yet to be finalised': Government
Almost a week after the Chinese firm Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company Ltd (STEC) became the lowest bidder for constructing the 5.6-km New Ashok Nagar-Sahibabad underground tunnel of the 82 km Delhi-Meerut RRTS project, the India's Ministry of Urban Development on Wednesday clarified that the tender is in "process" and "yet to be finalised"
Gwadar agreement with China: No clause for 40-year tax holiday
In a stunning disclosure, Pakistan maritime affairs secretary admitted on Wednesday that the original Gwadar Port concession agreement offered only 20-year – not 40-year – tax holiday to port operators and there was no provision for extending the tax concession to sub-contractors
Afghanistan turns to China to battle the virus
The government of Afghanistan has asked for help from China in the training of medical staff to fight the coronavirus
An entire Indian Army's company was trapped and 'savagely attacked' by Chinese PLA
Around 120 Indian soldiers, almost an entire company, was trapped and encircled by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and followed by savage and deceptive attacks, many to a point of mutilation, on Monday night, informed military sources said
