India trade agreement roadshow to tour Australia in April-June

Citizens of India want to leave an impact on the planet by prioritizing spending on sustainable products and contributing to local businesses, as per the American Express Trendex report. 87% of India respondents always or often purchasing sustainable products and 97% are interested in spending money on items that will have a positive impact on local businesses and communities, which is highest amongst all the other surveyed countries. Good news...

The growth within India’s economy will directly contribute to a boost in the middle-class population, resulting in increased wealth and disposable income for years to come.

In March of 2020, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi enacted a harsh lockdown and axed all entry visas for foreigner visitors due to the severe threat presented by the coronavirus pandemic, effectively shutting the country’s borders to the international tourists.

The rule, that mandates 10 days of self-isolation for travelers arriving from India, also apply to many other countries using Covishield, including most African ones.

Central Asia’s aim of improving regional connectivity and greater integration of Afghanistan are being challenged by tensions between the neighbours and the cocktail molotov that is US-Afghan relations.

With the pandemic wreaking chaos on financial markets and company finances around the world, certain industries and sectors have been hit hard whilst others have been a beneficiary of the disruption. India encapsulates both extremes with record-breaking deals on one end of the spectrum and high level of distressed companies that have seen their businesses decimated by Covid on the other.

Half-sitting at the confetti-covered table, we scavenge over the remains of Olivier salad, while trying to sober up and recover the memory of what just happened, and prepare for what’s going to come next? In this two-part issue, we share our 20 notes from 2020, and try to extrapolate what is in store in 2021.

Eager to unlock new development avenues, and less bothered by the woes posed by the pandemic in the West, the Central Asian states are ready to go big.

In a first for Indian Railways (IR), the government intends to allow private enterprises to create and operate new, premium passenger services on the country’s rail network. This creates partnership opportunities for Australian companies with relevant rail and finance experience, who should track the course of this procurement.