Courtesy: Wikipedia
The IMF will soon consider an important change to its policy on lending that may help continue its bailout programme to Ukraine, even if Ukraine defaults on a loan from Russia that matures in December 2015. If it does make the change, the IMF could be staking its credibility to favour the West’s political agenda
Courtesy: MEA / Flickr
The third India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi concluded on 29 October 2015. It is time that India begins work towards elevating the partnership with Africa and move ahead from the lofty ideals and grand vision statements. A conscious effort to shift gears and pour in investment in Africa is the need of the hour.
Courtesy: Wikipedia
Barely three weeks after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s official visit, the other Sharif -- General Raheel Sharif -- sets foot on U.S. soil, albeit without an official invitation. Will Gen. Sharif get what he wants from the U.S. to further his game plan?
Courtesy: Claude TRUONG-NGOC
The elections in Myanmar finally come to a close with Suu Kyi-led NLD’s landslide victory. The military establishment has accepted defeat. Suu Kyi, who can't be the president, has made it clear that she would be 'above the president'. How should India read Myanmar now and act to safeguard its interests?
Courtesy: Narendra Modi official
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives like the Make in India campaign, Digital India, Skill India, Smart Cities, et al, are all designed to attract much needed foreign capital into the country. However, a lot of global investors are still sitting on the fence. PM Modi, thus, must use the G20 Summit to assure investors and countries that India is open for business.
Courtesy: MEA Flickr
The strategic and geopolitical importance of Iran’s Chabahar Port is not lost on India. It is for this reason that India is keen to partner with Iran on investing in developing berths at the Port. Although the relationship between the two have had its ups and downs, it is time that with a nuclear deal in place between Iran and the P5+1, India realises that it has much more at stake in its relationship with Tehran.
Courtesy: Gateway House
At India’s first T20 consultation, hosted by Gateway House in Mumbai on October 19, the four working sessions were titled: ‘G20 and new inclusive business models’; ‘Trade, investment, and development’; ‘Financing sustainable infrastructure’; and ‘Technology, services, and skills’. We present an overview of these discussions, arranged in three categories for each session: Why is the issue important for the G20? What are India's concerns on the subject? What were the key issues discussed at this meeting?
Courtesy: MEA
The U.S. is urging India to alter its IPR regime, and the potential impact on prices in the pharmaceuticals sector is of concern to African countries that depend on India for low-cost generic medicines. The recent India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi sought to address this issue, but it will be a challenge for India to balance competing pressures.
Courtesy: Pixabay
Solar power developers have offered to sell electricity in India at less than Rs 5/unit. This makes solar competitive with traditional forms of energy, and makes new nuclear power plants financially unviable. India must register the changed reality, and discard the idea of expensive Western reactors. Time to scrap the India-U.S. nuclear deal?
Courtesy: MEA / Flickr
Changes in how India plans to approach its relationship with Africa were evident at the recent India-Africa Forum Summit, including the wider representation of African countries, and Modi’s push to forge a united front with Africa at multilateral institutions on trade and other issues. But beyond these, gaps in the India-Africa alliance remain to be addressed.