Arun Jaitley with briefcase Courtesy: Ministry of Finance/GoI
5 August 2014

Poll pledges and budget realities

If Budget 2014 is used as a reference point to examine how closely the Modi government kept to its election promises, it is evidently not easy to extirpate the old ways of doing business. This is clear, for example, in the punitive capital gains tax rate on debt mutual funds. Budget 2015 must correct the anomalies

BRICS leaders at summit_210x140 Courtesy: MEA/Government of India
30 July 2014

Realising the potential of the BRICS

Looking back at the 2008 financial crisis, when governments had to resort to bail-outs to keep economies afloat, the BRICS member countries have decided to set up a New Development Bank which will provide for a contingency fund. This initiative aims at building an alternate financial structure in terms of trade among the member states as well as creating a safety net

Modi at BRICS_210x140 Courtesy: MEA/Government of India
18 July 2014

Incubating a non-dollar architecture

The launch of the BRICS bank can now give the member countries confidence to experiment with other geoeconomic ambitions. Incubating a non-dollar financial architecture can be the next goal. There are existing models to build upon but India will need smart economic diplomacy to secure its interests

latam2 Courtesy: wikimediacommons
17 June 2014

Mann-India goes to Macondo

Even small Indian IT companies have managed to succeed in the Latin American market. Understanding the local culture is one of the main keys to success as illustrated in the case of Mann India Technologies, which was one of the earliest Indian entrants in the Latin American IT market.

Dilma_e_Lula_210x140 Courtesy: Government of Brazil/Wikimedia Commons
15 May 2014

Brazil: time to be a global power?

Brazil’s advantages – including resources of oil and gas, no historical baggage, an absence of terrorism and military conflicts – and regional leadership, make it a potential global power. But it also has to tackle many challenges in the medium-term, such as poverty, poor infrastructure, healthcare and education

Modi with Lat-Am delegation Courtesy: www.narendramodi.in
12 May 2014

Gujarat-Latin America: friends & benefits

The burgeoning trade between the state of Gujarat and Latin America has ensured that Narendra Modi’s campaign is closely followed in Latin America. The new government in India must build on this engagement, which will help address India’s energy, food and investment needs