picstitch (5) Courtesy: Wikimedia commons
19 March 2015

Assessing India’s infrastructure aid diplomacy

With the Modi government’s focus on improving neighbourhood relations, India cannot afford delays in its aid projects in the region—especially because aid is an effective foreign policy instrument. Why are these projects getting delayed? Is the government taking remedial steps to improve India’s aid programme?

Hands_Modi-Obama Courtesy: http://photos.state.gov /libraries/america/3239/
23 January 2015

India-U.S. BIT: not a done deal yet

India is revising the model draft agreement of its existing bilateral investment treaties. Some of the new clauses are unlikely to be accepted by either U.S. negotiators or U.S. corporations without substantial dilution

Fidel Castro with Nixon Courtesy: Getty Images
19 December 2014

Cuba: end of isolation

The U.S. has finally ended its outdated policy of isolating Cuba. It is a triumph for the proud and courageous Cubans who have withstood so many overt and covert destabilisation attempts by the U.S. It is also a victory for Latin America which has opposed the U.S. embargo and advocated normalization of relations with Cuba

michaelfroman Courtesy: wikimedia
11 November 2014

How fair is America’s ‘fair trade’?

There is a sense in Washington that if the U.S. is not tough with India, it will send a wrong signal to other countries. But the ongoing investigations by the Obama administration into India’s IPR regime and trade practices have become an unpleasant part of doing business with America

india china Courtesy: Wikipedia
23 September 2014

India-China: evolving geoeconomics

The trade deficit and border issues have usually overshadowed the public discourse between India and China. However, below this surface, bilateral business and financial engagement is growing. India will have to engage judiciously with China to ensure that the resulting geoeconomic benefits remain in our favour

wto2 Courtesy: Food Corporation of India
1 August 2014

WTO, sovereignty and trade

India's refusal to budge on food security has resulted in the World Trade Organization’s failure to reach the first multilateral trade agreement in the last two decades. Having taken a tough stand can India take the lead, among developing countries, in reframing the power equations of globalisation?

LNG_Carrier_Fuji_Lng Courtesy: Ken Hodge/Wikimedia Commons
20 June 2014

LNG imports can end the east’s exclusion

The BJP government can begin to address regional disparity, which is a drag on economic growth, by redirecting to the east and north-east some of the infrastructure and investment planned for LNG imports. This policy push, along with concessions for customers, can re-industrialise the region