Bangladesh – Sri Lanka Preferential Trade Agreement: Gains and Policy Challenges
The ongoing Bangladesh-Sri Lanka discussions on a preferential trade agreement (PTA) will benefit from knowing the potential gains from reducing bilateral trade costs. Ex-ante estimates predict modest gains for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in absolute terms, even after completely removing the sensitive list. Given that the estimated modest economic gains of a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka PTA do not justify a trade deal that requires substantial resources for negotiations, the PTA should have fewer regulatory measures and tariff concessions for the products on the offensive lists to maximise the economic benefits of a PTA.
Righting the Ship: The X-Press Pearl Disaster and the Imperative for Regional Maritime Cooperation
On 20 May 2021, Sri Lanka’s worst-ever marine disaster occurred when a fire erupted on the Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl container ship just 18 km Northwest of Colombo. While the long-term cost is yet to be determined, the negative impact on industries such as fisheries and tourism, and people who rely on the coastal resources of Sri Lanka is already apparent. This article examines the key consequences of this disaster on Sri Lanka’s coastal economy and highlights the need to enhance regional maritime cooperation to prevent the recurrence of such disasters.
Latest Edition of Talking Economics Digest Now Online! – Shaping South Asia’s Future in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)
The 18th edition of the Talking Economics Digest centers on the theme of ‘Shaping South Asia’s Future in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).’
Growth and Equity: Achieving SDGs in South Asia in the Age of 4IR
The world is on the cusp of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), which is affecting the way people live, work, do business, and interact. Newly emerging technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IOT), virtual reality, and 3D printing are fast becoming the new normal. Therefore, it is important to explore the development challenges for South Asia in the new era of the 4IR. In this context, one of the plenary sessions at the 12th South Asia Economic Summit (SAES XII) explored the links between 4IR and SDGs at the regional level.
Sri Lanka’s New Regionalism: Looking beyond South Asia
Sri Lanka occupies a pivotal position as a strategic asset to both India and China, and despite its role as a pioneer of SAARC, the country is increasingly turning towards broader engagement with East Asia. This blog examines how Sri Lanka can delicately balance both Indian and Chinese interests to its advantage, to leverage the benefits of both regional superpowers.
Demystifying Hawala/Undiyal – The Not So Dismal Science:[…] believed that informal fund transfer operations in Sri Lanka have expanded considerably due to the wide gap between the…