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The 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu next week is an opportunity for member countries to start shaking off the shackles of distrust. Instead, SAARC must robustly move forward on such issues as regional connectivity, SAFTA, climate change, and security—and India can be the prime mover in building this renewed cooperation
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The 18th SAARC Summit will cover a wide range of issues, including connectivity, climate change, and SAFTA. A number of similar issues were discussed at the last summit—what’s been the progress since then? Given its constraints, does the association have a future? Gateway House asks and answers five questions on SAARC
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The UN and the global finance industry are making gradual but concerted efforts to align business interests and ecological sustainability. A growing number of companies are combining profit-making with social responsibility. There is still a long way to go, but the UN system has created useful mechanisms of change
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit all the right notes in his landmark visit to Nepal this week. Modi’s announcement of hydropower being a key area of synergy in the bilateral will help India solve its electricity shortage and also provide the country a renewable energy import from a friendly neighbour
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India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is in Nepal this week in line with the government’s commitment to prioritise ties with neighbours. Ties between India and Nepal have not been smooth with Nepal seeking a review of the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed between the two countries
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The World Bank report highlighting the need for far-reaching reforms in the power sector underlines the necessity for the centre and state governments to arrive at a political consensus. The model of cooperative federalism advocated by Prime Minister Modi has the potential to transform the electricity scenario
Courtesy: PMO/Government of India
By inviting SAARC leaders to his swearing-in ceremony India’s new prime minister Narendra Modi has signaled a major shift in India’s foreign policy. Gateway House presents perspectives from experts from seven countries on the changes they expect to see in India’s foreign policy in the Modi era
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The South Asian region is one of the least integrated in terms of trade and human interaction. The presence of SAARC leaders at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government heralds a step towards removing barriers and integrating the economies of this region
Gateway House speaks to Ujal Bhatia, Member, Appellate Body, World Trade Organisation, on the importance of economic diplomacy; India’s assertiveness during trade negotiations; the role of Indian business in the negotiation processes; the relevance of SAFTA; and on ways to boost intra-SAARC trade.
Pankaj Saran, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, talks to Gateway House about the current relationship between the two countries and the prominent issues that need to be addressed for a durable partnership.
