img_115755_marutisuzukiplant_03_av Courtesy: Forbes India
15 September 2023

India gets its supply chain groove

The announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) has the potential to make India an Asian hub in global supply chains. India’s renewed emphasis on trade agreements and export-oriented foreign direct investment presents a significant opportunity for the country to promote industrialisation across South Asia and make the region less vulnerable to Chinese enticements.

Colombo-port Courtesy: The Wire
3 August 2023

India-Sri Lanka: Connecting grids

India and Sri Lanka recently signed six energy agreements, including plans for an oil pipeline from India to Sri Lanka, electricity grid connectivity, and cooperation in renewable energy. Sri Lanka can benefit from India's cost-effective oil sourcing and processing and pay for it in rupees, easing its balance of payments crisis. Its wider use of the Rupee fulfills a long term objective for Indian policymakers.

Myanmar website Courtesy: WION
24 July 2023

Myanmar: An empty seat, ASEAN schism and India’s choices

ASEAN's efforts to restore democratic transition and political normalcy in Myanmar have come up against a wall of non-cooperation from the state's current military regime. The grouping's internal unity and credibility has also been challenged by two parallelly unfolding policy lines - one favoured by the grouping and the other pursued by Thailand and its supporters. India, which has vital national interests at stake in Myanmar, has supported ASEAN centrality and the 5PC on Myanmar, while also simultaneously demonstrating an understanding of the Thai unilateral policy.

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

India and Sri Lanka: Hard work ahead

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.

website SCO Courtesy: India Today
11 July 2023

SCO Summit: Same old, some new

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's growing importance is seen in the numerous new applicants waiting in line for membership. The 23rd SCO Summit hosted by India on July 4 saw progress in areas like digital transformation and economic cooperation. However, timidity in acting on foundational issues like anti-terrorism reflects the internal contradictions and tensions within member states - a continuing challenge for SCO.

Supply-chains-cover Courtesy: Gateway House
5 July 2023

The Great Supply Chain Shift from China to South Asia?

Supply chains are central to the new chapter of India-U.S. relations. Simultaneously, China-centric global supply chains, which underpinned East Asia’s prosperity, are changing as multinationals re-assess risks in the post-Covid era. Is the shift to India and the rest of South Asia occurring? This paper finds that South Asia supply chain pessimism could be changing, and India can spread gains through regionalising supply chains in its neighbourhood.

aizawl Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
29 June 2023

Mizoram in transition

Mizoram is one of India's most beautiful states, whose people high literacy rates in India. Yet a lack of employment opportunities and inadequate infrastructure have significantly hindered its progress. The recent investments in connectivity projects and the tourism industry can help Mizoram transition into being a model for growth in India's North East.

BoB3 Courtesy: The Strategist
1 June 2023

Food, Energy & Finance Connectivity in the Bay of Bengal

Despite its natural advantages, the Bay of Bengal region lags economically, in part due to insufficient connectivity between the member nations. Improving financial connectivity between them is the first step to easing movement of goods, services and people. Greater financial collaboration also can help the region mitigate the impact of ongoing geopolitical upheavals that have caused food and energy prices to rise.