BUSINESS
Spice route versus Silk route: Which one has the upper hand?
China has already taken the lead in building soft economic power with Europe, offering efficient trade connectivity. Is there room for one more pathway?
BUSINESS
India needs to fix its farm infrastructure urgently to avoid another tomato burst
India’s storage capacity for food grains is 790 million tonnes. But its cold storage facilities at 37.5 million tonnes are largely limited to four states and do not cater to large sections of agri-produce, each of which has distinct storage characteristics
BUSINESS
The world is unwilling to give up on fossil fuel subsidies
These pernicious forms of subsidies not only divert public and private funds from other useful economic activities, but also harm the environment
BUSINESS
Beyond state schemes, India’s MSMEs need strategic govt push to flourish
The strategically focused push that envisages the MSME sector as a vital link in a massive industrial value chain-driven machine is missing
BUSINESS
Resolving India’s BRICS dilemma calls for shrewd exercise of limited leverage
India needs to be inside the BRICS room to build its sphere of influence in the Global South and prevent a quite takeover by China but also be counted among its Westphalian friends
BUSINESS
Xi Jinping’s ideological dictums leave China in a soup over economic growth
The contradictions in Xi’s ideology, as a functional instrument beyond political rhetoric, that seeks to mobilize economic instruments for growth, negatively impact the very economic governance system that gave China its growth
BUSINESS
There’s a war below the sea over submarine cables
Globally, of the 486 cables currently in use, 148 undersea cables are slated to reach the end of their service life within the next ten years and need to be replaced. Another 80 are under construction and slated to be ready around 2025
BUSINESS
A slowing Saudi economy has little choice but to cut production
Saudi Arabia finds itself in a catch-22 situation. Oil production cuts have slowed its economy, but weakening demand prospects aren’t giving the Kingdom the benefit of the cuts
BUSINESS
Why global capital is souring on China
Geopolitics, and hegemonic rivalry, are part of the story—a key part but not the whole story. Geoeconomics, a troubled economy, domestic policy, and the risk of war over Taiwan are the other parts to the growing unease towards China
BUSINESS
Why is Vietnam a destination of choice for global FDI?
Vietnam’s proximity to China, competitive costs, a relatively skilled workforce, extensive free trade agreements (FTA) make it an enviable investment destination for global firms
BUSINESS
India’s warehousing and logistics sector is in the midst of a boom
India’s growing economy is leading to a boom in the setting up of infrastructure such as logistics parks, warehouses with the latest technology. Investors are pouring money into these assets
BUSINESS
India’s infrastructure stock is growing, but private sector is yet to bite big
Private investments have either been crowded out or have grown at a much slower pace, arguably because demand inducements have been absent
BUSINESS
With Russian oil bonanza on the wane, India needs to refocus on Iraq
Infrastructure and engineering sectors are where India has seen an opportunity
INDIA
India must make haste in securing finance to gain edge in critical minerals
Scarcely any Indian company or financial institution has made concurrent attempts to build the funding capabilities required to catapult India into the next orbit of critical minerals development
BUSINESS
The Green Pivot: China is painting its industries green with an enviable finance strategy
China needs around $21.3 trillion in debt financing to reach its net zero emissions target by 2030, which looks achievable with its current strategy
BUSINESS
The dismal state of power discoms threatens India’s energy dreams
The crucial fact missing in all the backslapping on investments in the power sector is that investments need to integrate from generation to transmission and distribution
BUSINESS
Death of the dollar and the yuan’s rise: That’s a long shot
The temptation to invoice trade in currencies beyond the US dollar has risen, but currency pairs do have an underlying dollar component one way or the other across trade
BUSINESS
China’s gas deals with Qatar are powering it as a swing trader
The deals with Qatar, coupled with overland pipelines, are giving China considerable power over a vital transition fuel—natural gas
BUSINESS
India needs both Iran, US to take advantage of the vital INSTC trade corridor
India’s ties with Iran are key to its long-term trade interests, offering not just markets that had hitherto been limited by geography but significant trade influence outside its traditional ambit
BUSINESS
Saudi money and Chinese technology make a formidable geopolitical combination
China and the US are no longer asymmetrical powers in the Middle East. The moves of one affect the other considerably
BUSINESS
Green Pivot | India’s aluminium industry crucial for green transition but emissions pose a big obstacle
India needs investment to maximise its considerable potential as an aluminium manufacturer to the world
BUSINESS
India will need to do a balancing act, albeit with a tilt to the US
Expectations are high that significant announcements about Indo-US technology partnership and investment will be announced when Prime Minister Modi visits Washington
BUSINESS
The Green Pivot: Will India’s green energy dreams face a severe capital crunch?
India will have to compete with the US and the EU in attracting capital to its green energy sector
BUSINESS
Adam Smith and the distortionary impact of Artificial Intelligence
IMF Deputy MD Gita Gopinath has pointed out how AI will upend the seminal work of Adam Smith and completely change labour markets and the economy
