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World News by Wild Rose

IJCCI invites companies to work with Japanese SMEs

China voices ‘serious concern’ over new US curbs in senior trade talks

China on Thursday voiced “serious concern” over recent US economic restrictions during a video call between Vice-Premier He Lifeng, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The exchange took place as both sides sought to finalise economic deliverables ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to the United States in September. “The Chinese side expressed serious concern over the recent economic and trade restrictions imposed by the United...

US GDP growth dips as inflation and trade deficits pressure economy

GDP grew by 1.5 percent in the second quarter following a 2.1 percent increase in the first quarter.

Farmers in Villupuram urged to enroll under crop insurance scheme for Kharif 2026

India-UK trade deal provides opportunities for Kerala, says British Deputy High Commissioner Sutapa Choudhury

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) makes it “cheaper, quicker and easier” to do business between India and U.K., says Ms. Choudhury

China’s smart-vacuum giants swept up in US robot ban, hitting top options for Americans

The fallout from Washington’s fresh import ban on foreign robots appears poised to disrupt the American living room, threatening to lock out market-dominating Chinese smart vacuums. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added foreign-produced “advanced robotic devices” to its so-called Covered List on Tuesday, blocking new models from obtaining the equipment authorisation required for US import and sale. While initial reports largely focused on humanoids and quadrupeds – with the FCC...

US economic growth slows in second quarter but domestic demand robust

US economic growth slowed in the second quarter amid a widening in the trade deficit, but an acceleration in consumer spending and robust business investment in equipment related to the buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure pointed to underlying strength. Gross domestic product increased at a 1.5 per cent ‌annualised rate last quarter, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis said in its advance estimate of second-quarter GDP on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters...

Can the West really decouple from China?

Over the past 10 years, Washington, Brussels and London have made decreasing economic reliance on China a strategic goal. Western economic plans now stress supply-chain resilience, industrial sovereignty, technological leadership and national security. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted weaknesses in global supply networks. Increasing geostrategic tensions, export restrictions and technological rivalry have supported political backing for reshoring and “friendshoring” manufacturing. The objective...

In the waters off Malaysia, Iranian oil sales continue despite blockade

A large anchorage area off the coast of Malaysia is a major marketplace for sanctioned oil.

Hong Kong official slams ‘bias against China’ after new article by Stephen Roach

A senior Hong Kong finance official has hit back at criticism of the city’s prospects as “bias against China”, following a recent commentary by a prominent US economist who asserted that “the Hong Kong of old is over”. The government’s rebuttal did not directly name any specific critic but was published after American economist Stephen Roach wrote an opinion article saying Hong Kong had become a mainland city. “Some critics appear to be driven by bias against China rather than objective...

Cuba says nearly three-quarters of hotels have shut as travel plunges

Nearly three-quarters of Cuba’s hotels have been closed and the island’s tourism sector has been brought to “almost total paralysis” by US sanctions and fuel shortages, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero said on Wednesday. Detailing the scale of the tourism crisis for the first time, Marrero said seven international chains, responsible for about half of all hotel rooms, had left the island. Tourism had been Cuba’s second-largest source of foreign currency earnings, employing more than 300,000 people...

Malaysia moves to protect local firms as cheap Chinese goods fill market

Malaysia is stepping up scrutiny of foreign-run businesses amid concerns from local operators over competition from China. The government wants to retain Chinese investment, technology and affordable consumer goods, while assuring local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that foreign competitors are not subject to different rules. Former trade and investment minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, now chairman of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, said government social media analysis had...

New yacht travel scheme makes waves but can Hong Kong cash in on marine economy?

For the first time, veteran sailor Thomas Wong Kam-chuen and his partners set sail from Hong Kong on their 46-foot yacht on a two-day trip earlier this month to a holiday island in Zhuhai, testing the waters for more leisure travel to mainland China. After a five-hour voyage from the Causeway Bay typhoon shelter on a sunny weekend, they anchored their Danish-built yacht, DBX2, at Guishan Island, went ashore for a seafood lunch with beer and stayed overnight. “Food is really economical. We had 11...

The Chinese robot army transforming the UK's retail industry

Britain's weak productivity growth and labour shortages are creating an opportunity for China's robotics firms.

Brazil becomes world’s top buyer of Chinese cars as imports jump 147%

Brazil overtook Russia and Belgium in the first five months of this year to become the world’s largest importer of Chinese cars, buying US$5.2 billion worth of vehicles as brands raced to land shipments before a tariff increase took effect in July. The figure, drawn from Chinese customs data, is up 146.9 per cent from the US$2.1 billion recorded a year earlier, when Brazil ranked sixth among buyers. Russia bought US$5 billion over the same months this year and Belgium purchased US$3.8...

Can China’s EV boom give it decisive edge in geopolitical tech war?

China may increasingly seek to use its dominance in the global electric vehicle industry as geopolitical leverage, giving Beijing greater influence over countries dependent on its technology and supply chains, according to analysts. “With China, the strategy is different. It’s to overwhelm the industry, capture it, and use it ultimately as leverage,” said Michael Dunne, CEO of Dunne Insights, an auto advisory firm. “When it comes to crunch time, they say, ‘Oh, by the way, we’re the source of all...

#17  |  Jul 29, 14:55 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Indo-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry invites Indian companies’ participation

Deadline for the submission of applications is August 20

US Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady despite Warsh’s inflation vow

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, a choice that may intensify questions about how US central bank chief Kevin Warsh will deliver on his commitment to bring inflation back down to the 2 per cent target. The widely ‌expected decision to leave the benchmark interest rate in the 3.50 per cent to 3.75 per cent range drew dissents from three of the 12 members of the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee who “preferred” a quarter-percentage-point hike at this...

US Fed holds interest rates steady citing ‘elevated’ inflation

Elevated inflation partly reflects supply shocks that have increased prices, including of energy, the Fed said.

Fuel prices soar on back of Iran war, leaving Yemeni labourers with no work

Construction projects in Yemen are paused as rising fuel prices trigger a domino effect on building material costs.

#21  |  Jul 29, 11:31 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

MSMEs seek reduction in fixed charges for electricity

Reducing electricity fixed cost, which is ₹165 a kw now, will cut the production costs of MSMEs, says industry body

#22  |  Jul 29, 11:12 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Konaseema handloom weavers’ societies to get ₹6.36 crore credit

#23  |  Jul 29, 10:27 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Taiwanese delegation explores investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh

In meetings with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and HRD Minister Lokesh, the high-level team discusses collaborations in manufacturing, electronics, semiconductors and industrial development

#24  |  Jul 29, 09:33 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Govt. to prepare action plan to address aqua farmers’ challenges

US bans imports of new Chinese robots over security concerns

The action is part of a wider US effort to reduce reliance on Chinese technology.

What will the US foreign robot ban mean for China’s world-leading start-ups?

China’s robotics firms have run into a fresh obstacle in their global expansion, after the United States banned imports of new foreign-made models. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added foreign-produced “advanced robotic devices” to its Covered List on Tuesday, blocking new models from obtaining the authorisation required to be imported and sold in the US. The ban will cover all new humanoids, quadrupeds and a broad range of connected mobile machines, with the FCC citing supply chain...

80% of mainland Chinese firms eye Hong Kong as launch pad for Asean expansion

More than 90 per cent of mainland Chinese enterprises plan to expand overseas within the next two years, with over 80 per cent aiming to use Hong Kong as their launch pad into Southeast Asia, a survey has found. The research findings, published by the Trade Development Council on Wednesday, indicate that mainland firms are actively pursuing diversified footprints across Asean markets. The survey, conducted from January to February 2026, polled more than 2,000 mainland Chinese companies across...

China’s drone-farming boom eyes emerging markets as agriculture automation spreads

To offset an ageing agricultural workforce and boost sustainable yields, China is aggressively accelerating the adoption of farm drones – a trend that analysts say could spread to more emerging markets despite trade restrictions imposed by the United States. Industry leader DJI said its global sales of agricultural drones had exceeded 700,000 units across China and more than 100 other countries and regions by the end of last month – more than a fivefold increase in just five years. Use of the...

Why has the China-US profit gap widened on the Fortune Global 500?

China’s unaddressed economic structural problems are swallowing profits and leaving its multinationals falling far behind their US peers in the latest Fortune Global 500 list, despite its firms remaining strong in terms of revenue. The profit gap between Chinese and US companies has continued to widen. Chinese companies posted an average profit of US$4.5 billion in 2025, or some 40 per cent of the US$11.24 billion recorded by their US counterparts, according to the list released by Fortune...

China’s hi-tech boom pushes firms to boost pay in 2027 as keeping talent a priority

Employers in China anticipate a slightly higher median salary increase next year as they push to retain top-tier talent despite financial pressures following a soft 2026, according to data published by a global advisory. Companies were budgeting for a median increase of 4.5 per cent in 2027, following 4.3 per cent growth in 2026 and 4.5 per cent in 2025, the advisory and broking firm WTW said in a new report. Even so, the three-year figure would still lag Asia-Pacific regional averages over the...

How South Korea can ease Brazilian concerns to unlock trade in South America

If South Korea wants to unlock access to South American trade, it will need to prove it is not a competitor interested only in extracting natural resources but a trustworthy partner committed to revitalising manufacturing industries, according to observers. On Monday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed to revive negotiations on a free-trade agreement between South Korea and Mercosur, the South American trade bloc. A joint working group...

Singapore signals housing market stability by scrapping 15-month HDB wait

Singapore has signalled stability in the public housing market by scrapping a 15-month waiting period that barred private property owners from buying resale HDB flats – even as other curbs remain in place. National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat announced the change on Tuesday, saying the government recognised that the rule had caused inconvenience and disrupted the plans of those with genuine housing need who wanted to move from a private property into a Housing Development Board (HDB)...

#33  |  Jul 29, 02:33 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Watch | What is the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024 all about?

In this video, we look at the MK Stalin government’s plans to achieve a $1 trillion economy goal for Tamil Nadu by 2030

#34  |  Jul 29, 01:49 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Tariffs, conflicts demand policy rethink: C. Rangarajan

The former RBI Governor was delivering a special lecture commemorating the 35th anniversary of India’s New Economic Policy, organised by the PG and Research Department of Economics, Stella Maris College

AI boom will sustain Hong Kong’s export surge, lift GDP outlook, economists say

Hong Kong’s export surge will extend into the coming months, driven by the global AI boom, economists have told the South China Morning Post, adding that gross domestic product (GDP) growth could surpass official forecasts. Billy Mak Sui-choi, an associate professor at Baptist University’s accountancy, economics and finance department, said global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) remained far from saturated and would continue to drive exports. “No single country has yet been able to...

Shanghai Clearing House targets global growth with expanded offshore yuan push

China is pushing a new model to boost international sales of its domestic bonds, with the Shanghai Clearing House (SHCH) leveraging global financial networks to expand the offshore yuan pool. Writing in a recent article, SHCH chief Ma Jianyang noted that the initiative was designed to solidify Shanghai’s dominance in offshore yuan derivatives clearing while insulating the domestic market from cross-border financial risks. As part of this push, SHCH will broaden its clearing services for offshore...

US bans new Chinese robots, power inverters in latest tech crackdown

The Trump administration on Tuesday announced bans on imports of new Chinese robots and power inverters, citing threats to US national security and supply chain vulnerabilities. Without naming China, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expanded its Covered List to include two new categories of foreign-made equipment: advanced robotic devices and connected power inverters. The robotic devices included mobile robots, such as humanoids and quadrupeds. The action would ban the import and...

Can China and Indonesia’s strong financial ties withstand ‘resource nationalism’?

Back in 2009, when China’s economy was expanding at about twice today’s pace, a little-known private firm made a quiet bet on uncharted territory: Indonesia. The company was on a quest: to secure nickel, a vital industrial metal used in stainless steel production and, increasingly, to power advanced batteries. That bet proved lucrative. By leveraging Indonesia’s vast nickel reserves – the world’s largest – and securing greater control over upstream supplies, Tsingshan Group has grown into a...

Record Chinese biotech out-licensing meets rising US scrutiny

China’s emergence as a global biotechnology innovation hub has become a source of strategic concern in the United States, prompting policymakers in Washington to re-evaluate how to respond to its growing influence, according to a recent report by a leading analytics firm. “The country’s latest biotechnology success is strategically important, with implications extending beyond healthcare innovation to include pharmaceutical supply-chain resilience, economic competitiveness and national...

Singapore growth to hold firm but AI boom a ‘major uncertainty’: central bank

Singapore’s economic growth should remain firm in the second half of 2026 although a major uncertainty is the sustainability of the AI investment boom, the head of its central bank said on Tuesday. Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Managing Director Chia Der Jiun, speaking at the release ‌of the central bank’s annual report, said the Middle East conflict also posed risks, but for now global AI-related demand was “likely to continue to provide a meaningful boost” to the city state while other...

#41  |  Jul 28, 09:31 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Nandyal district targets one lakh hectares of horticulture cultivation to boost farmer income

Why has Iran’s economy not collapsed under US war pressure?

Millions in sanctions-hit country keep absorbing economic shockwaves, with analysts saying trend looks set to continue.

Indonesian central banker’s exit signals dilemma over rate policy, growth target

The sudden resignation of Bank Indonesia’s governor highlights a dilemma that he and his central bank peers in the region have faced in calibrating interest rates – either tighten policy to defend weakening currencies and contain inflation, or loosen it to support pro-growth mandates – according to analysts. Perry Warjiyo’s exit has fuelled speculation that he was under pressure to do more to support President Prabowo Subianto’s economic growth agenda. Warjiyo, who led the Indonesian central...

Hong Kong Shopping Festival eyes Asean expansion, with Singapore, Malaysia first

An annual e-commerce shopping festival supporting Hong Kong’s small and medium-sized enterprises will expand into the Asean region for the first time via Singapore and Malaysia, with plans to include other countries in future. The Trade Development Council, the organiser, said on Tuesday that the third edition of the annual Hong Kong Shopping Festival, launching next month, had attracted a record number of local brands across its mainland China and Asean editions this year. The annual festival,...

China’s rare earth reserves could be much larger than reported: leading geologist

The world’s largest known rare earth deposit in northern China could contain far more resources underground than currently reported, according to a leading Chinese geologist. Containing 100 million tonnes of rare earth reserves, the Bayan Obo mine in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region has served as the backbone of China’s rare earth industry for decades. According to Yang Li, a Peking University geologist, “Bayan Obo’s rare earth resources have been the dominant source of global rare earth...

China-made vessel carries record number of EVs in shipment from Shanghai to Europe

China has shipped a record number of electric vehicles (EVs) overseas from a Shanghai terminal, carried by a new generation of China-built car carrier ships – the latest instance of the country’s products taking on an even larger role in global supply chains. The Malta-flagged Glovis Nova, a newly delivered vehicle carrier built in China, loaded 7,738 new energy vehicles at Shanghai’s South Port Terminal on Sunday, setting a new domestic record for the number of vehicles shipped from a Chinese...

India spared worst of US ‘forced labour’ tariffs, but hard talks loom

India has been spared the worst of Washington’s latest tariff action, but analysts say much work still needs to be done to secure a long-awaited US trade deal despite the lower-than-expected levy. The Trump administration’s fresh round of tariffs, unveiled last week, targeted 60 economies it accuses of failing to curb imports made with forced labour. As late as last month, India was being threatened with a 12.5 per cent rate, but ultimately earned a place among the 17 economies – including...

Indonesia’s Singapore rival, India’s one-shot win over SpaceX: 7 Asia highlights

We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Indonesia’s plan for a rival to Singapore starts to take shape Indonesia wants to build a financial centre to rival Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai, but analysts say the real work of persuading global investors has barely begun. 2. Japan voters ‘pretty angry’ with PM...

#49  |  Jul 27, 23:23 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Rajasthan formulating new strategies for value addition to farm produce

Detailed deliberations were held on the expansion of the food processing sector, available opportunities, challenges and the necessary policy reforms in the presence of A.P. Das Joshi, Secretary, Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Cambodia’s tourism slump leaves Angkor Wat eerily quiet

Watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat once meant fighting for elbow room, a hundred phone screens glowing in the dark as tour buses disgorged crowds chasing the same postcard-perfect shot These days, the 12th century temple complex is comparatively quiet, with operators reporting an emptying of Cambodia’s most recognisable landmark. “Angkor is as quiet as I have seen it in years,” said Akim Ly, founder of the Siem Reap-based tour company Adventures Cambodia and a member of the Cambodia Tourism...

#51  |  Jul 27, 15:49 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Rayalaseema: India’s new industrial hub

The TDP government has transformed the arid region into an economic hub

Brazil turns to China trade deal after Trump’s tariffs, as years of resistance end

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva agreed on Sunday night to accelerate negotiations for a trade agreement between China and Mercosur, a striking reversal for Brasilia, which for years led resistance to such a deal in the South American bloc. The two leaders spoke by telephone for more than an hour, according to a statement from the Brazilian presidency, and “coincided on the importance of speeding up the talks for a Mercosur-China agreement that...

#53  |  Jul 27, 12:29 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Montek Singh Ahluwalia to head Tamil Nadu Revenue Augmentation Committee

The committee has been tasked with recommending measures for the sustainable augmentation of the State’s tax and non-tax revenues by improving compliance, plugging leakages, rationalising tax rates, fees and exemptions, and identifying new and underutilised sources of revenue.

#54  |  Jul 27, 10:35 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Mounting losses force farmers in Karnataka’s Kolar district to chop down mango trees

Farmers said while they were incurring losses growing mangoes on the one hand, they were unable to cultivate other crops along with mangoes as the sunlight does not reach those crops due to shade. Thus, they are unable to diversify the crop cultivation

China condemns US over new Section 301 tariffs – but holds off on retaliation

China’s Ministry of Commerce has objected to Washington’s latest tariff on the country’s goods but signalled it will hold off on retaliation for now, noting the 12.5 per cent duty keeps the United States within the ceiling that the Trump administration promised in earlier talks. Washington was manipulating the issue of forced labour, the ministry said in a statement on Monday, calling the Section 301 investigation and the subsequent tariffs “a textbook act of unilateralism and protectionism”. It...

#56  |  Jul 27, 07:43 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Fix minimum and maximum prices for milk, industry appeals to T.N. government

Like rice and vegetables, milk prices too could be pegged to availability within a range fixed by the government so that consumers are not adversely affected, suggested consumer activist T. Sadagopan

Hong Kong to offer 5% shopping and dining discounts for major event participants

Residents and visitors in Hong Kong can enjoy discounts on dining, shopping, and attractions in August by presenting tickets for five major events, including an exhibition, as authorities seek to boost the retail and catering sectors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board announced on Monday that ticket holders for the selected events in the city would be able to enjoy 5 per cent discounts at more than 100 designated hotels and tourist attractions in August. “With a series of major sports, cultural and...

Germany’s drive to compete with China collides with long-standing tradition of Sunday rest

Germany’s drive to compete with Chinese imports is colliding with its long-standing tradition of Sunday rest, with policymakers and retailers now asking whether a century-old consensus still fits an economy struggling to regain its competitiveness. The latest flashpoint came in early July, when the country’s coalition government unveiled a package of measures to boost Germany’s competitiveness, including plans to let bakeries, confectioneries and public libraries operate longer on Sundays from...

Profits in China’s chipmaking sector soar 2,500% in first half amid AI boom

China’s major chip manufacturers saw their profits skyrocket a staggering 2,579.5 per cent in the first half of 2026, fuelled by unprecedented demand for artificial intelligence and computing power, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. The state agency attributed the surge to accelerated integration of AI across various fields, which in turn generated massive demand for computing power, according to Yu Weining, chief statistician of the NBS department...

AI fuels boom as Hong Kong exports soar 53% to record HK$641 billion in June

Hong Kong exports rose 53.4 per cent year on year in June, their sharpest increase in 42 years, to a record HK$641.1 billion (US$81.7 billion) on strong overseas demand for AI-related products. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Monday showed that the total value of exports climbed to HK$641.1 billion last month, after a 40.8 per cent surge in May. The last time exports rose more than 50 per cent in a month was in March 1987, and the last time they...

Malaysia’s 10% US tariff beats regional rivals, but for how long?

Malaysia has won a small victory in Washington’s tariff wars, securing a 10 per cent rate that leaves it better placed than four of its Southeast Asian neighbours in the scramble for US orders. Economists warn the narrow advantage may prove fleeting, however, as it hinges on Kuala Lumpur fulfilling its promised trade reforms. The new duties, which fall under Section 301 of the US Trade Act and took effect on Friday, keep Malaysia in the lower tier of a new American tariff regime alongside...

China’s private-sector split widens as tech rises, traditional sectors struggle: survey

Many of China’s private firms continue to face tough operating conditions, including intense market competition, persistent payment delays and weak domestic demand, though technology firms have shown stronger momentum, according to fresh survey results. The recent survey of 79 entrepreneurs from medium- and large-sized private firms found that more than 70 per cent of respondents described their current business conditions as difficult or very difficult, according to the Beijing-based Dacheng...

Singapore tightens monetary policy for second time in 3 months

Singapore tightened monetary policy on Monday for the second time in three months, as the fallout from the US war against Iran keeps global energy markets volatile and inflation risks elevated. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it would increase the rate of appreciation of the local dollar’s trade-weighted value. The move comes as oil prices remain elevated owing to tensions in the Middle East, sparked by the US-Israel attacks on Iran that began on February 28, and continue to cast...

Apple leak in India, China eyes Indonesia for mineral access: 5 weekend reads you missed

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. After Apple leak, has India lost ground in its supply chain race with China? In the wake of a cyberattack on a local Apple partner, insiders say India has a long way to go before challenging China as a manufacturer. 2. China wants unique access to minerals with Indonesia offer, analyst says China...

Food security: can drones and BeiDou put an end to ‘paper farming’ in China?

China’s agriculture sector needs more advanced technology and innovation to boost yields and improve food security – not more farmland and crops, according to a rural policy expert. The remarks came after a state media investigation alleged that officials in central China had inflated the size of mandatory rice crops to hit their targets. CCTV programme Focus Report aired its investigation on July 14, claiming officials in Jianghua Yao – a county in Yongzhou, Hunan province – had misreported the...

Indonesia central bank governor Warjiyo steps down in surprise exit

Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo has stepped down from his role, Indonesia’s State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi said on Monday, a surprise move analysts said could rattle investors worried about the central bank’s independence and ‌the country’s fiscal management. President Prabowo Subianto has accepted Warjiyo’s resignation, the minister said ahead of the opening of financial markets in Jakarta. Destry Damayanti, a senior deputy governor at BI, has been appointed as interim governor....

Why Indonesia needs legal trust, not tax cuts, to build a finance hub

Tax breaks used to be enough. Not any more. Analysts say a new generation of investors is prioritising legal certainty and regulatory stability over incentives – and Asia’s most successful international financial centres will be those that successfully secure trust. All of which carries repercussions for Indonesia’s plans to build its first international finance centre, after lawmakers passed a law on Tuesday giving the project the green light. Enforceable contracts, predictable regulation and...

What lies ahead for Iran’s economy as scope of US war grows beyond Hormuz?

Mediation efforts continue but uncertainty remains as risks of further disruptions in international waterways grow.

#69  |  Jul 26, 12:46 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Economic self-reliance key to India’s rise in new global order: S. Gurumurthy

Noted economist and thinker cautions that as the country’s global influence increases, certain foreign forces are attempting to create internal divisions and weaken the nation

#70  |  Jul 26, 10:16 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Madanapalle tomato prices remain higher

#71  |  Jul 26, 09:55 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Rising egg prices burn holes in consumers’ pockets

Apart from seasonal and weather factors, the ups and downs caused by the West Asia crisis appear to have hit the egg prices

#72  |  Jul 26, 09:34 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Mysuru: CFTRI shares best practices on Coffee quality and value addition

#73  |  Jul 26, 08:54 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Centre planning to reduce aqua feed prices: Union Minister

#74  |  Jul 26, 02:38 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Nepal eases post-demonetisation curbs on Indian currency; allows ₹200, ₹500 notes

Following the demonetisation, Nepal prohibited the entry and use of Indian currency notes of denominations above ₹100; while the ceiling of ₹25,000 on carrying Indian currency remained unchanged, travellers were effectively restricted to notes of ₹100 and below.

Southeast Asia must embrace reforms for ‘China plus one’ to succeed

In recent years, Southeast Asian governments have viewed the “China plus one” strategy as their best chance to escape the middle-income trap. As global manufacturers looked to diversify away from China because of rising costs, trade tensions and supply-chain vulnerabilities, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia seemed perfectly placed to benefit. The promise was simple and compelling: new factories would arrive, more formal jobs would be created, wages would rise in tandem with higher productivity...

Why new US tariffs threaten Trump government’s credibility in Asean

A new wave of US tariffs that hit seven Southeast Asian countries is set to reinforce perceptions of Washington as an unreliable partner to the region, according to analysts. Citing what it said were forced labour practices uncovered in its latest investigations, the US on Thursday imposed levies ranging from 10 to 12.5 per cent on 60 economies – with the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam the hardest hit among Association of Southeast Asian Nations members. Malaysia, Indonesia and...

Can Zimbabwe’s mineral ambitions benefit smaller producers?

Zimbabwe wants to process more minerals at home, but smaller miners fear being left behind.

How Xinjiang offers Hong Kong a bridge to Central Asia — and what the risks are

Hong Kong businesses can leverage Xinjiang’s connectivity with Central Asia to expand into new markets while the city’s financial, trade and professional services can help businesses in the region enter Southeast Asia, according to political analysts. But an economist and a textile industry veteran have warned of potential risks for Hong Kong businesses building ties with Xinjiang in northwestern China. Western countries have imposed sanctions on officials and entities tied to the Xinjiang Uygur...

Indonesia’s plan for a Singapore rival starts to take shape

Indonesia wants to build a financial centre to rival Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai, but analysts say the real work of persuading global investors has barely begun. Parliament’s passage of the enabling legislation on Tuesday laid the legal foundation for the hub, marking a milestone in President Prabowo Subianto’s push to attract more foreign capital into Southeast Asia’s largest economy and lift growth towards 8 per cent by the end of his term in 2029. Yet observers caution that the centre,...

#80  |  Jul 25, 10:40 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Centre agrees to release ₹1,900-crore crop insurance premium dues to A.P.

The coalition government is systematically resolving the problems of farmers, says Minister Atchannaidu

The Global South is being forced to choose creditors over children

The education of millions of children is at risk because of the current global financial order. We need change

#82  |  Jul 25, 10:19 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Farmers should not be forced to pay commission to middlemen: Upalokayukta to APMC

#83  |  Jul 25, 09:57 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

TCCI urges immediate FCI market intervention to prevent rise in rice prices

The chamber has urged the FCI to release rice stocks under the open market sale scheme to stabilise prices and ensure sufficient supply.

Nearly 170 mainland Chinese motorists expected in Hong Kong under expanded scheme

Close to 170 mainland Chinese motorists are expected to arrive in Hong Kong on Saturday under an expanded cross-border travel scheme, with hotels rolling out accommodation, dining, shopping and parking packages to attract the new visitors. The Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles scheme was extended to cover five more cities – Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou and Zhaoqing – from Saturday, with the daily quota of urban trips doubling to 200. A total of nine mainland cities in the Greater...

#85  |  Jul 25, 04:25 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Karnataka plans fruit orchards on government land to generate jobs in rural areas, revenue for local bodies

RDPR Minister Eshwar Khandre suggested that the orchards be leased annually through a transparent auction process to unemployed youth from the respective villages.

Syria’s US$216 billion rebuild offers a Hormuz alternative

For years, Syria was a wound the world watched fester: a country carved up by war, sanctioned into isolation and reduced to a byword for state collapse. Its economy needs US$216 billion to rebuild, according to World Bank estimates. This month, for the first time since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, it began to look like it might actually get there. On July 8, the government of Ahmed al-Sharaa – a former jihadi commander turned president – established a supreme constitutional...

#87  |  Jul 24, 23:35 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Bihar ranks second in RuPay card usage under PMJDY in the country

4.98 crore RuPay card holders under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in Bihar; it was revealed in data released by the Union Finance Ministry.

Singapore’s young workers cling to side hustles to survive the AI age: ‘it’s exhausting’

By day, Adele Lee juggles schedules and administrative work as a personal assistant to a senior director at a financial advisory firm. Three evenings a week, the 32-year-old logs back on, this time to sell second-hand clothes through TikTok livestreams, fielding questions from viewers and packing orders herself after the broadcast ends. The side hustle brings in about S$500 (US$390) a month, supplementing her monthly salary of almost S$4,000. The extra cash helps pay for her insurance premiums...

Trump threatens EU will pay ‘big price’ after Brussels fines Google $1bn

EU accuses US tech giant of favouring its own services in search results, as Trump lashes out against bloc.

Indonesia’s Bali financial hub ‘a matter of survival’: economic tsar

Bali has “aura” and political titan Luhut Pandjaitan wants to channel it to transform Indonesia’s famed resort island into an international financial centre. But President Prabowo Subianto’s special adviser and economic tsar is not relying on subtle nods to Gen Z slang to sell paradise. Instead, he conjures up a striking image to make his case. A friend recently sent him a photograph of kamikaze drones lighting up the skies over Abu Dhabi, accompanied by a plea: help us get out. Indonesia,...

China tests Central Asian land corridors to bypass maritime chokepoints

Beijing is doubling down on overland trade routes across Central Asia as continued disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region expose the vulnerability of global shipping chokepoints. A new link to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan offers a practical example of this long-term diversification push. However, observers caution that security concerns and capacity constraints could make a meaningful shift away from sea freight difficult. Officially launched in May with pilot shipments, the...

US small businesses challenge Trump’s new ‘forced labor’ tariffs

In lawsuit on Friday, two small businesses said latest round of tariffs on 60 countries needs to be legally justified.

US small businesses sue Trump administration over new ‘forced labour’ tariffs

Two US small businesses on Friday ⁠challenged President Donald ⁠Trump’s latest round of tariffs on goods ⁠from 60 trading partners, saying that the new policy, like most of Trump’s previous tariffs, went beyond the president’s authority to tax imports. The lawsuit, filed in the US trade court in New York, argues that the new tariffs require ‌more detailed country-specific findings about “forced labour” to be legally justified. The two small businesses, backed by a non-profit legal group that...

Canada marks Gordie Howe bridge opening without US after trade war deepens

Canada cancelled planned cross-border ribbon-cutting ceremony and the milestone opening was only among Canadians.

Trump vows fresh tariffs on EU in retaliation for US$1 billion Google fine

US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on products from the European Union in retaliation for the bloc’s US$1 billion (€890 million) fine of Alphabet’s Google. The president in a social media post on Friday said the US would launch a trade investigation “into the practice of ‘ROBBING’ American Companies and, in turn, the American Taxpayer”. “The penalties will be entirely reversed and, we anticipate, a substantial TARIFF to be placed on them at the earliest possible moment,” Trump...

Trump vows to investigate EU over fining of US tech companies

The US president says fines against Google, as well as Apple, Meta and Amazon, should be "entirely reversed."

#97  |  Jul 24, 14:02 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

The unfinished business of the India-U.K. trade deal | Explained

While the India-U.K. CETA eases trade barriers, important questions on investment protection, patent rules and carbon border taxes have been left for future negotiations

‘Extremely disappointing’: US trade partners respond to Trump’s new tariffs

Countries question Trump administration's latest round of tariffs, which relate to forced labour claims.

#99  |  Jul 24, 11:02 UTC Global Economy & Trade The Hindu 🔗

Director-General of TECC Chennai explains his idea of ‘Design from Taiwan, Make in Tamil Nadu’