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Indo-Iranian Cooperation in Afghanistan Faces Challenges (May 23)
By Aryaman Bhatnagar May 23 – India has reaffirmed its willingness to develop Iran’s Port of Chabahar during the seventeenth meeting of the India-Iran Joint Commission in Tehran. With an initial investment pledge of some $100 million, the move further strengthens the emerging partnership between the two countries in Afghanistan. The Chabahar port is critical to India’s Afghanistan policy. In the absence of direct physical access to the country and a hostile Pakistan denying Indian goods transit, the Iranian harbor is the most viable access point India has to Afghanistan and the rest of Central Asia. India has already signed … Continue reading →


India-China Relations Strengthened Through Investment Agreements (May 22)
May 22 – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has recently met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, the first trip abroad for Premier Li in an official capacity. The two world leaders discussed India-China relations, as well as penned several agreements designed to foster investment and trade between the two nations. “The purpose of my current visit to India is three-fold; to increase mutual trust, to intensify cooperation and to face the future,” said Premier Li. Indian officials welcomed Premier Li on his first trip oversees since taking office in March, acknowledging the importance of his visit. “We … Continue reading →


China’s Provincial GDP Figures in 2012 (May 21)
Three-fourths of China’s provinces reported GDP figures over RMB1 trillion (US$163 billion) in 2012 By Yao Lu May 21 – According to preliminary data released by China’s National Bureau of Statistics, the country’s economy expanded 7.8 percent in 2012 amid the sluggish global economy, reaching RMB51.9 trillion (US$8.45 trillion). The growth rate, although the slowest since 1999, still beats the government’s 7.5 percent growth target. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the country’s economic growth reached 7.9 percent, putting an end to seven consecutive quarters of slowdown, up from 7.4 percent in the third quarter and 7.6 percent in the … Continue reading →


Social Development in India: Challenges and Solutions (May 20)
As India focuses on stimulating economic growth, it must not neglect the challenges facing its 360 million below the poverty line citizens. India faces a monumental challenge in the years to come — to grow not just economically, but also socially. Continue reading →


Development Zones in India (May 17)
India’s SEZs closely follow the successful Chinese SEZ model, and to promote economic competitiveness and easier exporting, they function as growth engines to boost manufacturing and create new job opportunities at a rapid pace. Continue reading →


New Issue of Asia Briefing: An Introduction to Development Zones Across Asia (May 10)
In this issue of Asia Briefing Magazine, we break down the various types of development zones available in China, India and Vietnam specifically, as well as their key characteristics and leading advantages. We then go on to provide a snapshot of the latest development zones across the rest of Asia. We hope that this issue will provide the basic fundamentals to understanding one of the most important business tools available to international businesses operating in Asia. Continue reading →


Report Designates Delhi as India’s Most Creative State (May 9)
May 9 – According to the Creative Index Report 2013, a report launched by Martin Prosperity Institute, Institute for Competitiveness and The Prosperity Institute of India, Delhi is India’s “most creative state,” or the state with the greatest economic potential in the Indian economy. Selecting Delhi seems to be stretching the rules a bit, since it is in fact a Union Territory (UT) and not a state. The report, however, counts all seven UTs in India as states, judging 35 states in total. To determine the ranking, the report judges the “creative class” of each state by three criteria, which … Continue reading →


Calculated Political Tension at China-India Mountain Border (May 3)
In the Himalayas, two great powers are blaming each other for stirring tension. India says Chinese troops crossed the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border there. China claims it was merely responding to earlier intrusions carried out by Indian border guards. We don’t know who is speaking the truth. But “calculated” political tension has emerged. Continue reading →


India to Return to 7-8% Growth By 2015 (Apr 29)
Apr. 29 – In several recent statements both to the press, international investors, and the Indian parliament, India’s President, Prime Minister, and Finance Minister have stated that they are confident in returning to seven or eight percent annual growth as early as 2015. They have also stressed that foreign direct investment (FDI) is critical in this regard, signaling further facilitation in the times to come. “We are confident that we will return to 7-8 percent growth bracket in the next two to three years,” said President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday, speaking to the IFTDO’s World Conference and Exhibition in New … Continue reading →


China’s Investment in Europe Continues to Rise (Apr 29)
Apr. 29 – Chinese companies increased their investments in Europe by as much as 21 percent in 2012, solidifying its position as the main destination of Chinese Outward Foreign Investment (ODI). In total, Europe was the recipient of US$12.6 billion of Chinese investment last year, which now represents approximately 33 percent of all Chinese ODI. The rationale for increasing investment in Europe is attributed to a convergence of multiple factors. The current problems affecting European economies have led many enterprises to be in need of fresh capital, as regional sources of capital have dried up. In addition, lingering uncertainty over … Continue reading →