mw website fin Courtesy: The Times of India
20 July 2023

India and Sri Lanka: Hard work ahead

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On July 21, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to visit for the first time since taking office. India has already provided $5 billion in economic assistance to Sri Lanka, and is now looking to expand its investment in the nation. Sri Lanka is also seeing interest from Indian private investment. The visit presents an opportunity for the two countries extend this relationship in new areas of cooperation, especially energy, infrastructure, and tourism.

China Germany Courtesy: Deutsche Welle (DW)
20 July 2023

Germany’s new China strategy

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On July 13, the German cabinet approved its Strategy on China after nearly two years of internal discussions. The new strategy simultaneously views China as a “partner, competitor, and systemic rival”, calling for de-risking German economic dependence on China, while also expanding cooperation with other countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

27010605639_d03ddf44a5_o Courtesy: The Dahrendorf Forum
17 July 2023

Central Asia, the new corridor

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The Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to the resurgence of interest in Central Asian as an alternate trade corridor between Europe and Asia. Timely investment in connectivity projects like the Middle Corridor and the INSTC by regional stakeholders, as well as by the EU, China and India, must now build on this interest to create new regional, international, and cross-continental transport corridors.

flags-g20-membership-concept-summit-260nw-2237447197 Courtesy: Shutterstock
14 June 2023

India’s G20 presidency at midpoint

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India’s year-long G20 Presidency completed six months at a time of global economic slowdown and sharpening geopolitical contestation. While India has done well in leveraging the Presidency to articulate its vital goals, the success of the upcoming Delhi Summit will depend on achieving consensus, additionality, and implementability.

3D Isometric Flat Vector Conceptual Illustration of Green Investments, Alternative and Ecological Clean Power Courtesy: Dreamstime
5 April 2023

Enabling climate finance creatively

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The focus on climate finance must take into account the high cost of debt, foreign exchange risk and weak public energy utilities in the developing economies. A creative and workable solution to all these issues is to establish a Global Climate Finance Agency, managed by a reputed multilateral agency with some of the capital support promised by the developed countries.

nz cow Courtesy: DW & Avalon_Studio/iStock
24 November 2022

Ban crypto, not cows

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Many western governments and pressure groups are now turning to agriculture to curb carbon emissions. Given the legitimate concerns about security of food, nutrition and livelihoods, they may be looking in the wrong direction. If these groups are serious about reducing emissions, activities such as crypto-mining, with no positive net contribution, should be targeted first.

TACFERT 1 Courtesy: Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited
20 October 2022

Building a carbon capture ecosystem in India

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Renewable energy systems on their own will not be successful in achieving the net-zero targets. New technologies such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) also need to be used, especially in hard-to-decarbonize industries like petroleum, steel and cement. India can use its upcoming G20 Presidency to initiate an informed discussion on CCUS technologies.

Sberbank Russia Courtesy: Getty Images
6 October 2022

Sanctions on Russia: The Long View

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Wide-ranging economic sanctions on Russia are likely to stay for several years, if not decades. Given Russia’s critical global role as a supplier of key commodities and military hardware, India should pursue long term solutions to continue this trade.

cc 2 Courtesy: Shutterstock
27 July 2022

Climate Change, the convenient culprit

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Unusual rains or snow? Flooding? Drought? It seems that climate change alone is to blame for any anomaly taking place anywhere in the world, be it hydrometeorological or anthropogenic. It’s a convenient culprit for besieged leaders seeking to escape responsibility towards their citizens, and it undermines the scientific evidence of climate change.