NEW DELHI: India has become the second most competitive BRICS economy and will grow faster than China this year, according to the last edition of the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum. The report showed India’s competitiveness improved the fastest in 2015-16, jumping 16 places to rank 39th among 138 countries on the […]
Increasing Global Competition
Asean to press RCEP to cut tariffs on 92% of goods
ASEAN countries will propose to the 16 member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to eliminate tariffs on 92 per cent of trade in goods to promote economic integration of the grouping soon. Sirinart Chaimun, director-general to the Trade Negotiations Department, said although Asean countries wanted the agreement to be finalised by the […]
China’s Ambitious Plan For A New Silk Road Takes Shape In Africa
Four years and some hundreds of billions of dollars later, China’s ambitious global trading strategy known as the “Maritime Silk Road” or “One Belt, One Road“ is now coming to life, particularly in parts of East Africa where major infrastructure and defense projects are being built. New ports in Tanzania, rail lines in Kenya,naval facilities in Djibouti and industrial zones along the […]
TPPA and RCEP: How will they benefit Malaysia?
Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, said recently that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is complementary to the TPPA concluded last October. Both TPPA and RCEP embrace similar goals of trade liberalization and economic integration and have received the widest attention in the Asia Pacific region. So what is the […]
BRICS Bank Inks Strategic Cooperation Deal with China Construction Bank
The New Development Bank (NDB) launched by the BRICS countries on Wednesday signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China Construction Bank, the country’s second-largest lender. “The NDB, as per its mandate, is building partnerships with major banks in its member countries. Cooperation with CCB is important for us, given the key role it plays in infrastructure financing,” said NDB […]
BRICS bank set to issue yuan-denominated bonds
The New Development Bank of the BRICS countries is set to issue its first yuan-denominated bonds with plans to release more bonds in local currencies including in Indian Rupee, a top official of the bank has said. The Shanghai-based bank founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and headed by eminent Indian banker M […]
India in a tight spot at RCEP trade talks
India is in a tight spot at the trade negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as Japan and China are pushing for either common tariff for all member countries in 10 years’ time or to make the initial tariff liberalization more ambitious. India may face mounting pressure to increase its tariff liberalization proposal […]