New Delhi: In a boost for development in the countries of the South, the Indian government recently unveiled plans to set up an International Centre for Human Development. Based on the premise that countries poised at the similar level of development share the same challenges in a rapidly globalizing world, the centre seeks to explore new approaches and solutions to common development problems. With an eye on "outcomes" the platform aims to integrate human development approaches to better the lives of poor and marginalized citizens.
New Delhi: As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flies into Tehran to join his non-aligned counterparts, attention is drawn to the diplomatic structure that supports his international efforts. The Indian diplomatic corps has long enjoyed a justified reputation of being among the world’s best in terms of individual talent and ability. It includes men and women of exceptional intellectual and personal distinction who have acquired formidable reputations in a variety of capitals. Yet it is dismaying that it is so small: India’s is arguably the smallest foreign service of any significant country, smaller than all of its peers amongst the emerging powers, and far smaller than the global heavyweights.
New Delhi: India will seek greater access to China's market for its medicines and technology services when trade minister Chen Deming visits New Delhi next week, at a time when its overseas shipments have been contracting. India's merchandise exports shrank by 4.8% to $22.4 billion in July for three months in a row because of falling demand in European and US markets. In the first four months of the financial year that started on 1 April, exports contracted 5.06% to $97.6 billion.
Mumbai: As India faces the prospect of being the first BRICS country to lose its investment-grade credit rating, investors have already delivered their verdict: to them, the country already trades at "junk", which should temper any ensuing market reaction. Credit default swaps suggest India is already a bigger investment risk than emerging markets such as Vietnam and more than double the risk of fellow BRICS Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa.
New Delhi: Even as independent India marked its 65th anniversary with an uninspiring effort to redeem Nehru’s “pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity”, belied by a huge internal dislocation of its citizens, there was ironically recognition of India’s growing global role, which went practically unnoticed. A recent survey of the United Nations (UN) based on an exclusive poll of top international experts conducted by Foreign Policy magazine made two crucial assertions.
New Delhi: In a bid to ensure that it is heard adequately, India wants to be part of a group of 30 countries on deciding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and financing mechanism under the Rio plus 20 declaration. Around 195 countries in June this year had agreed on a declaration at the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro on how the world should grow in a sustainable manner in the next 20 years. India was able to get equity and right of poor in development as part of the Rio declaration.
The U.S. may be seeking an unconditional partner in its effort to rebalance towards Asia, but it shouldn't hedge its bets on India. "We want strategic autonomy. We don't want to be identified with U.S. policy in Asia, even if we secretly like it," Ambassador T. P. Sreenivasan, retired Indian diplomat and former Permanent Representative for India at the United Nations, said at an August 9 event hosted by the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
New Delhi: Politicians should treat India's economic growth as a national security issue, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Wednesday, warning a lack of consensus is holding back Asia's third-largest economy as it tries to drag millions from poverty.Singh was more optimistic on the economy than many private economists, predicting growth of more than 6.5 percent this year, but he said more was needed to improve livelihoods.
New Delhi: Chile, Cuba and Venezuela, the troika of Latin America's premier grouping, Wednesday sought closer economic and strategic partnership with India and described New Delhi as "an emerging power" that can play an important role in transforming the region. Seeking to scale up ties with India in diverse areas, Chile's Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno Charme listed the many advantages of India and the Latin American region working together to transform their societies and economies.
Ankara: Throughout the Cold War, Turkey’s relations with India were mostly governed within the framework of the preferences of Pakistan. As a gesture to Pakistan, which unconditionally supports Turkey in international matters especially in the Cyprus issue, Turkey has kept a respectable distance from India. Moreover, Ankara has encouraged Islamabad’s arguments regarding the Kashmir conflict. However, as the world's second-most populous country, India’s progress in gaining importance in the global economy and international politics since the 1990s has led to Turkey’s quest to develop a new strategy for South Asia.
