An agreement worth Rs442 billion with a joint venture of Power China and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was signed on Wednesday for the construction of a diversion system, main dam, access bridge and 21-megawatt Tangir hydroelectric power project
India’s Balance-of-Payments Challenge: Need for Structural Transformation in Uncertain Times
India possesses immense talent, entrepreneurial capacity, and a large domestic market, yet it still lacks sufficient depth in high-end manufacturing, research and development, semiconductor ecosystems, advanced engineering, and globally dominant product companies.
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.
More on Geoeconomics, Trade and Development
Chinese People’s Liberation Army provides protective material to Sri Lankan army fighting COVID-19 pandemic
At the request of Sri Lanka, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has sent an Air Force aircraft carrying a consignment of required personal protective clothing and other supplies for COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control to the Sri Lanka Army
China reiterates support for Afghanistan peace, development
The Chinese ambassador to Kabul, Mr. Wang Yu, has assured his country’s support to a stable and developed Afghanistan
Chinese chopper spotted near LAC, India rushes fighters to border
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday scrambled fighter jets along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China in Ladakh, after China flew military choppers close to the LAC
Lessons to be learned from China's COVID-19 handling
The bottom line is this: China has been less than truthful, manipulated messages, behaved autocratically, turned the pandemic into a geopolitical football game of blame and shame, and not been forthcoming about how the novel coronavirus started nor accepted any responsibility for its consequences, writes Frank F Islam for South Asia Monitor
Pakistani students stranded in Wuhan to begin flying back
Pakistan has decided to bring back via special flights its students stuck in Wuhan, China, ground zero of the novel coronavirus
Chinese Nationals In Nepal Should Follow Nepali Laws: Chinese Embassy
The Chinese embassy in Nepal has instructed Chinese nationals in Nepal to strictly abide by the laws and regulations and the lockdown measures adopted in Nepal
China-based Afghan traders, students assist health facilities
Afghan traders and university students residing and studying in China, have donated medical equipment cost some one million dollars to the ministry of public health, the ministry said
Sri Lanka to get another stock of test kits, medical supplies from China
China will be sending by air another stock of medical supplies, including test kits, to Sri Lanka tomorrow in response to the urgent need of the government, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said
Can Beijing absorb the blowback of Wuhan Virus?
With the magnitude of deaths inflicted by the Wuhan Virus worldwide, a response is inevitable in due course of time in whatever form, writes Lt Gen P. C. Katoch (retd). for South Asia Monitor
No compromise on CPEC, says Pakistani official
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a non-political international project and work for its completion is in progress on a fast pace, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information Lt-Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa has said
China must up its game in controlling its oil and gas resources better
As the world is at a long battle with the COVID-19 pandemic, the international oil market, being an area that is highly susceptible to geopolitics, emergencies, and fluctuation in the economy, is a key area that has been affected too
Chinese envoy intensifies political meetings in Nepal
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi has recently held political meetings with top leaders of ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) at a time when rift within the party has deepened
China sends additional aid to help Pakistan decimate locusts
Aid containing 300,000 litres of pesticides and 50 sets of equipment from China has reached Pakistan, waiting to destroy locust swarms that are evolving into their second generation, Sui Pengfei, Director of International Cooperation Department, Chinese Agriculture Ministry said at a press conference
India’s revised FDI policy in right direction; no appeasement for China
Chinese President Xi Jinping must have been surprised when he heard the news that Government of India has issued orders that any Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from countries bordering India, including China, would be closely scrutinized and specific permission is required for such investment to take place
