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5 December 2024

Stepping on FDI pedal in Maharashtra

In its election manifesto for Maharashtra, the winning Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set a goal of transforming Maharashtra into a $1 trillion economy by 2028. To achieve this, the state will need to focus on increasing its share of Foreign Direct Investment which, although the biggest in the country, has stagnated over the past decade.

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24 October 2024

Partners for progress

Sri Lanka's sovereign debt default in April 2022 triggered a paralyzing economic crisis. Steep inflation and widespread financial uncertainty hampered any efforts at recovery. The economy is now showing signs of stabilization. Internally focused government policies, foreign investment, aid from development partners like India and the U.S., and the IMF’s recovery program have set Sri Lanka on the path to recovery and, hopefully, eventual economic success.

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17 October 2024

Maldives turns to India

Maldivian President Muizzu's state visit to India last week was marked by discussions on a Free Trade Agreement, a vision document on maritime security cooperation, and five MOUs. India committed to supporting the Maldives’ development goals, while the Maldives pledged to respect India's security concerns in the Indian Ocean. Hopefully, this mutuality of interests will be the principal driver in the bilateral as it implements joint visions of economic and strategic cooperation.

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16 October 2024

Pakistan’s provinces demand electricity equity

In the backdrop of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit being held in Islamabad this week, is a restive state and peoples. Three high profile attacks in just a week were followed by a show of defiance from the large Pashtun community, demanding political equity – but also electricity concessions. The military has been stepping in to resolve commercial power deals, underlining the criticality of this issue in Pakistan.

This handout photograph taken and released by the Sri Lanka President's Office on September 23, 2024 shows Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka attending his swearing-in ceremony, in Colombo. - Sri Lanka's first leftist president was sworn in to office on September 23 vowing to restore public faith in politics but said he had no magic solution to the hardships suffered following an unprecedented economic crisis. (Photo by Sri Lanka President's Office / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/SRI LANKA PRESIDENT'S OFFICE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS Courtesy:
3 October 2024

Sri Lanka’s new positioning

The new Sri Lankan government led by President Anura Kumar Dissanayake held its first meeting with the International Monetary Fund on October 3, to discuss further debt relief. Dissanayake, who overcame voter apprehension in the country’s presidential elections held two weeks ago, now has a historic opportunity to bring Sri Lanka out of the crisis and enable a compassionate and efficient transformation.

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5 September 2024

The pivotal presidential election in Sri Lanka

The economic agenda is the key issue in the Sri Lankan Presidential elections to be held on Sept 21. This island nation is seeking a return to prosperity through relief from onerous debt, reduced corruption, an effective bureaucracy, and constitutional and economic reforms. The five principal players in the race, however, have varied agendas that may not fulfil all of the people’s needs and desires.

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15 August 2024

Stirring regime change in Bangladesh

The events of August 5 turned Bangladesh from a development model to unstable entity. A variety of players have been stirring trouble in the country, from within and without. Great powers and neighbours, NGOs and the diaspora, Islamist groups and armed forces. All these are entangled in the U.S.-China geopolitical rivalry that Bangladesh seems to be caught in.