Representational Photo

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

India successfully test-fires Agni-5 missile to boost China deterrence

India on Wednesday announced that it carried out the latest test of the 5,000 km range Agni-5 missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, a significant step towards boosting the nuclear deterrence against China

Talks with China to go on, Indian Army to stand firm: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed confidence that the ongoing talks between China and India for a peaceful resolution of the eastern Ladakh standoff will continue while Indian troops stand "firm" in the region

China’s decision to bring new land border law of concern, says India

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Pakistan PM dials China’s Xi Xinping, talks of strengthening economic ties; call for immediate aid to Afghanistan

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday held telephonic talks with Chinese President Xi Xinping when both leaders agreed to “further strengthen bilateral economic and commercial ties”

China passes new land border law making its territorial integrity 'inviolable'

Asserting that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China are “sacred and inviolable”, the country’s national legislature has adopted a new law on the protection and exploitation of the land border areas, which could have bearing on Beijing’s long-standing border dispute with India

Atheist China has no right to choose next Dalai Lama: Head of Tawang monastery

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To counter China threat, Indian Army deploys rocket artillery system in Northeast

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Broader relationship with China affected by border developments: India

Asserting with emphasis that peace and tranquillity in the border areas is a "sine qua non" for India and China to work together, India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said New Delhi hopes that Beijing will work with it to bring a satisfactory resolution to the current issues, keeping in view each other's sensitivities and interests

Pax Sinica is still a long shot

A foreign policy blunder could lead to the collapse of Chinese Communist rule and severe economic turmoil for the country

Pakistan bans Chinese firm for forged documents

A Chinese firm dealing in electrical hardware has been banned by Pakistan from participating in government bidding or tendering process for a month

Bhutan and China agree on three-step roadmap to expedite boundary talks

Bhutan and China on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding, agreeing on the three-step roadmap for expediting the Bhutan-China boundary negotiations which started in 1984. So far, 24 rounds of negotiations have been conducted without any final agreement

Fresh friction with China: Beijing objects to Indian Vice President's visit to Arunachal Pradesh

Two days after India and China blamed each other for failing to make headway in talks over the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, Beijing Wednesday said it “firmly opposed” Indian Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh - in the northeast of India bordering China - last weekend

India, China military talks collapse: India says China not agreeable; China says India unreasonable and unrealistic

The latest round of talks between Indian and Chinese military commanders over the standoff in Ladakh broke down on Sunday, the Indian Army said, adding that that the Chinese side was not "agreeable" and "could not provide any forward-looking proposals", NDTV reported

Top Indian and Chinese generals meet after two months to resolve LAC standoff

India and China held the 13th round of Corps Commander-level talks on Sunday at Moldo. The meeting, which started around 10.30 am, ended around 7 in the evening, India's Ministry of Defence said

Quad to have second phase of Malabar exercise from Oct 12

The second phase of the Malabar naval wargaming exercise with the four Quad members – India, US, Japan and Australia – will take place in the Bay of Bengal October 12-15