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West Bengal unaware of new maritime border

The Mamata Banerjee government has been caught unawares by the new eastern maritime border that was re-drawn by a UN tribunal in July. The cost of this ignorance: 132 fishermen in 10 trawlers languishing in Bangladeshi jail for straying into its waters. MamataAround 19,000 sq km of exclusive economic maritime zone where Indian fishermen would cast their nets was handed to Bangladesh nearly five months ago following a five-year arbitration. “We continued fishing in the area as usual but trawlers began to be seized by Bangladeshi authorities now ...

Indian cotton exports to decline 45pc this year

India’s cotton exports are likely to decline by 45% this year (October – September) on falling demand from its perennial importers i.e. China and Bangladesh. Trade sources estimate cotton exports between 6.5-7 million bales (1 bale = 170 kgs) this year as against 11.8 million bales shipment estimated by the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) during last year. cottonWith lower exports estimates, India will remain surplus with cotton leading to steep fall in prices this year. Parth Mehta, Joint Managing Director of Bhadresh Traiding Corporation, Indi...

Making Asian summits count

Asia enters its annual season of political summits in the coming weeks and US President Barack Obama will be a key player. Despite his Democrat party losing America’s domestic mid-term elections, the President will continue to be a key presence, first at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and then at the East Asia Summit (EAS), hosted by Myanmar. Simply turning up shows that America is, indeed, making the effort to continue its rebalance to the region. But after the pomp and ceremony dies down, will Asia be satisfied with what America has to offer the region? And will Obama judge his time here as well spent?

Four Saarc states launch bid to resolve trade issues

Four Saarc member states—Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan—have launched an initiative to resolve the trade-related problems. A team of sub-regional alliance has started holding talks with stakeholders, including local traders. SAARCFollowing an interaction with local traders at Mechi Customs Office in Kakarbhitta, Jhapa, on Monday, Nepali Ambassador to Bangladesh Hari Kumar Shrestha said the countries have agreed to explore trade potential. “We have planned to develop a common agenda after carrying out field-based study of bordering areas,” he said. “Th...

Uzbek controversial cotton harvest not feeds citizens

The cotton-picking season in Uzbekistan has officially finished, but according to reports, teachers and schoolchildren continue to labor in the fields. Provincial leaders are known to apply physical force against farmers failing to meet cotton targets, while a recent report suggests that income from cotton production may bypass the state budget. Few people associated with the authoritarian republic are surprised by the report's findings. UZ CottonUzbekistan is famous for forced labor and child labor in particular. In 2009 a publication by T...

Republicans win may tighten grip on US foreign aid    

For the first time since 2006, the Republican Party will control both chambers of the U.S. Congress, signaling an uphill battle for the Obama administration to gain support for contentious foreign policy and aid initiatives in the next two years. Republicans won back the U.S. Senate and expanded their hold over the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s midterm elections. The party needed just six seats to regain control over the Senate and secured seven by late Tuesday evening. What does this mean for the leadership of committees overseeing U.S. foreign aid and policy? ...
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