Yeshi Seli

The present government of Bangladesh, under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is likely to uphold the earlier interim government's recommendation to remove 11 India-led projects. Most of these projects were at preliminary stages of implementation, where there were some differences in contractual clauses.

The maiden visit of Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister, Japan, to India coincided with the 16th India-Japan Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed PM Takaichi as his 'younger sister', and she reciprocated the sentiment by saying that she would develop this relationship as brother and sister. The two leaders held talks on trade, Indo-Pacific affairs, threats of terrorism and also increasing investments by Japan.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reaffirmed that the Indian passport is not a proof of citizenship but primarily a travel document. “Passports are only issued to Indian nationals and their primary legal purpose is to facilitate international travel, transit through foreign ports and establish an individual's identity abroad,” affirmed an official from the MEA. “Legal citizenship rights are governed by separate legal frameworks in India”.

India and the US are close to announcing a big new defence deal involving Boeing, says US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. “When foreign leaders show up and meet the President, Boeing is usually on the agenda, because we care about Boeing, we care about taking you to the next level and making sure that these countries are buying the best and most efficient planes in the sky.” The two nations are close to signing a bilateral trade agreement (BTA), he adds.

An increasing number of Indians are heading for Russia to work. According to estimates, close to 70,000 Indians are working across various sectors in Russia, including sectors such as construction, oil & gas, agriculture and city services, amongst others. “Given the historically friendly and trusted relations between Russia and India, there are enough reasons to believe that the overall progress in the labour mobility co-operation would without any doubt lead to the expansion of business opportunities, people-to-people exchanges and, most importantly, the growing awareness in both societies about the modern potential of our countries,” says Roman Babushkin, deputy chief of mission (DCM), Russian Embassy, India.

Andrew Murray Burnham, Britain's new Prime Minister, had visited India in 2019 as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, as part of a visit organised by the Manchester India Partnership (MIP). He had visited three cities then – Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru – and had highlighted the opportunities for co-operation in healthcare, technology and education, amongst other sectors.

China is India's largest trade partner, with bilateral trade touching $151.1 billion during the recently concluded financial year. India's second-largest trade partner is the US ($140 billion), followed by the UAE. Though trade with China has increased, there is a trade imbalance, with India's imports standing at $131.5 billion, while exports to China reach only $19.6 billion, making the total trade deficit (mid-year) about $112.16 billion.

Notwithstanding the US threat of imposing sanctions on imports of Russian crude, India's imports have increased since the conflict in West Asia. While the international market is volatile, with the cost of crude increasing to $90 per barrel after the escalation of conflict between the US and Iran in the recent past, Russia has been a steady supplier and has no shortage.

Bangladesh imports nearly 2,500 MW of power from India and it is hoped that the partnership in the power sector will increase and improve. “I came to India with a delegation to speak with our counterparts in India,” affirmed Mirana Mahrukh, secretary (power division), Bangladesh, while speaking to

After a six-year hiatus, India and China have resumed border trade through the Himalayan passes of Nathula (Sikkim), Shipki La (Himachal Pradesh) and Lipulekh (Uttarakhand), marking another step in the gradual normalisation of bilateral ties following the Covid-19 pandemic and military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).