Critical Minerals

Critical Minerals: The New Oil of the 21st Century?

Critical minerals are not literally the new oil, but they may play a comparable role in defining the balance of power. The race has already begun, and India’s preparedness will determine whether it merely secures access to the resources of the new century or helps shape the industrial order that emerges from them.

Trade Pivot Weakens Pakistan’s Grip on Afghanistan, as Others Move in

Afghanistan has sought to limit or reduce its structural vulnerability by moving trade through Iran’s Chabahar Port and Central Asian corridors. Kabul is realigning Afghanistan’s external economic geography by looking towards Iran, Central Asia, China and India.

India's Sugar Economy and Ethanol Politics: The Demand-Supply Imbalance Threatens to Mar Festival Season

The current rise in Indian sugar prices is the result of several factors rather than ethanol alone. Lower-than-expected production—from an initial estimate of 343 LMT to about 306 LMT—is central to the supply concern. Weather damage, disease, festival demand, global prices and market speculation have added to the pressure.

Can Iran's Chabahar Help Turkiye and India do Business?

Chabahar will not transform Türkiye–India relations. It can, however, show whether two countries with serious political disagreements are capable of making one difficult commercial route work.

More on Economy, Trade and Development

China grudgingly concedes India's Covid vaccines are good

As demand for the India-made COVID-19 vaccines gathers momentum in foreign countries, even China appears to have grudgingly accepted its South Asian neighbours domain expertise

Sri Lanka swap with China in advanced stage: Minister

A 10 billion yuan (about 1.5 billion US dollar) swap line for Sri Lanka’s central bank with the People’s Bank of China amount to 10 billion yuan is in an advanced stage, State Minister for Money and Capital Markets Nivard Cabraal said

'Chinese Army uses nomads to transgress into Indian territory'

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is using nomads in Ladakh to transgress into Indian territory while the Indian Army has restricted its own nomads to pasture lands, severely impacting the lives of locals, the Ladakh Hill Development Council has flagged to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Citing India, Trump blocks eight Chinese apps over national security

Taking India's example of banning more than 200 Chinese apps, US President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order that blocks transactions with Chinese companies running eight apps, including Jack Ma-owned Ant Group's Alipay, Tencent's QQ and WeChat Pay applications

'China used 'unorthodox weapons', made unilateral attempts to change status quo at LAC'

China's People Liberation Army escalated the situation at Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh by utilisation of "unorthodox weapons and amassing large number of troops", said India's Ministry of Defence in its year-end review

China’s foreign aid agency is all set to make foray into Nepal

For the first time, China’s external aid and development agency, China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) is making a foray into Nepal, pledging to finance 15 pilot development projects in 13 northern districts of the country

US asks China to end aggression against India and in Indo-Pacific

The US Congress through a bipartisan law, the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2021 has condemned China for its aggression in eastern Ladakh

Pakistan to push agriculture sector in the next phase of CPEC

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that the next phase of CPEC would include the country’s agriculture sector, and it would emphasize increasing agricultural products in the country

China continues to invest in Pakistan

Year 2020 proved to be yet another period of misunderstanding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Tibetan exiles vote to elect their next 'Prime Minister'

Tibetan exiles across the world on Sunday voted to elect their new 'Sikyong' or Prime Minister as well as members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile based here in this northern Indian hill town in Himachal Pradesh state

Next phase of CPEC to include agricultural sector: Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would lay emphasis on the agricultural sector

Locals protest China-sponsored project in Nepal

Locals have been protesting against China-sponsored Damak Clean Industrial Park in Damak Municipality, demanding adequate compensation for the acquired land and transparency regarding the Chinese investment project located in Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s home constituency Jhapa-5

Pakistan to purchase vaccine from China's Sinopharm

Pakistan has decided to pre-book a COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese state-owned company Sinopharm for emergency use for healthcare workers, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said on Thursday

Chinese, Pakistani FMs agree on need to deepen cooperation

Pakistan and China on Thursday decided to deepen their cooperation and work together for peace and stability in the region

Goods ‘worth billions’ stuck at Nepal's China border

A huge volume of goods destined for Nepal is stuck on the China border due to restrictions in movement along the northern border