Category: Politics

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Mauritius’ highest civilian award, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean. Mauritius’s president, Dharam Gokhool, awarded the medal during a magnificent event on the island nation. With this award, PM Modi becomes the first Indian leader to acquire such high recognition.

Accepting the prize, Modi expressed sincere gratitude, describing it as not only a personal honour but also a tribute to 1.4 billion Indians. He highlighted the centuries-long cultural and historical linkages between India and Mauritius. He emphasised that the award represents both nations’ shared ambitions and commitment to regional peace, stability, and sustainable development.

Prime Minister Modi is in Mauritius for a two-day visit at the invitation of his Mauritian counterpart, Navinchandra Ramgoolam. The visit has strengthened diplomatic relations between the two countries.

During the visit, eight memoranda of understanding were signed, spanning a wide range of development activities. PM Modi also pledged India’s contribution to the construction of a new parliament building in Mauritius. He referred to Mauritius as a “gateway to Africa” and emphasised India’s commitment to strengthening ties with its maritime neighbour.

Mark Carney, the recently elected leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, has stated that he wants to restore relations with India, which have been strained under departing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The 59-year-old, who is generally projected to become Canada’s next Prime Minister, has placed a high priority on improving trade and diplomatic relations with India. Speaking in Calgary this week, he emphasised the necessity of developing commerce with friendly countries and highlighted the importance of re-establishing ties with India.

“What Canada will seek to do is diversify its commercial partnerships with like-minded countries. And there are chances to rebuild relationships with India—there must be a common sense of values underlying the commercial engagement. Carney stated, “If I am Prime Minister, I look forward to the opportunity to build that.”

Despite being fresh to electoral politics, Carney has spent decades in finance, assisting governments in navigating economic crises. His leadership is likely to take a practical approach to policymaking. On Sunday, he was voted to lead Canada’s Liberal Party in the 2018 federal election.

Additionally, Carney declared in a bold remark that Canada will never be a part of America and promised to sustain punitive tariffs against the US.

Saudi Arabia is rapidly transforming into a key hub for artificial intelligence and data centres, with Riyadh likely to lead the Middle East’s data centre growth over the next three years. According to a forecast by real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL), the Saudi capital’s data centre footprint would rise at a startling 37% compound annual rate by 2027. This ratio is about double the predicted growth rate of neighbouring Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and it is much higher than the global average of 15%.

Daniel Thorpe, head of EMEA data centre research at JLL, emphasised the Kingdom’s aggressive quest for digital transformation and AI domination.

As part of its economic diversification plans, Saudi Arabia is increasing investments in cloud infrastructure and AI-focused technology. The country is luring major companies such as Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Equinix, which have pledged to develop data centres. Meanwhile, US firm Groq Inc. has teamed up with Aramco to build an AI inference centre.

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans include a new AI effort worth up to $100 billion. However, problems remain, such as US limits on AI chip exports and rising energy prices.

India and Belgium have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding their logistics collaboration, with a focus on increased trade connections and supply chain efficiency. Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium, emphasised this relationship when speaking at a seminar organised by Flanders Investment and Trade titled “Leveraging Logistics Expertise from Belgium to India.”

Prévot highlighted the need for multimodal transportation, cold chain logistics, and port connectivity in facilitating seamless trade. He emphasised Belgium’s importance as a significant gateway for Indian exports to Europe, with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges serving as a critical centre for cargo, chemicals, and pharmaceutical imports.

Deep commercial linkages between the two countries, especially in the areas of diamonds, refined petroleum, and medical supplies, were highlighted by the minister. Belgium has helped India’s developing pharmaceutical industry by providing experience in temperature-sensitive logistics and specialised air cargo solutions.

Prévot also discussed the challenges of cross-border transit, emphasising the importance of innovation and strategic partnerships in streamlining trade operations.

The increased collaboration between India and Belgium is likely to open up new trade opportunities while improving efficiency in the transit of commodities between the two countries.

According to the Commerce Ministry, Thailand is arranging talks with Vietnam and India to address the problem of falling rice prices brought on by overstock. India and Vietnam are the world’s two largest rice exporters, thus, they must play an important role in any market stabilisation efforts.

Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan revealed the plan in Parliament in response to concerns made by People’s Party MP Narongdet Urankul. Narongdet enquired about the fate of Thailand’s estimated 2.2 million tonnes of unsold rice. Pichai indicated that the conversations with India and Vietnam would center on coordinated market strategies for managing competition and preventing additional price decreases. The primary objective is to protect the livelihoods of rice farmers in the three countries.

Additionally, the ministry has engaged with African countries as possible markets for Thai rice. Pichai claimed that a 370,000-tonne contract has already been negotiated, with a visit scheduled later this month to finalise negotiations.

Pichai pointed out that Japan imports one million tonnes of bananas each year, but Thailand only exports 2,000 tonnes. He believes that moving to banana growing might greatly increase farmers’ income. However, Narongdet expressed scepticism, questioning the practicality of switching from rice to bananas.

India and the UAE have increased their efforts to develop the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC). IMEEC, which was launched during the G-20 Summit in Delhi in 2023, has signatories from India, the UAE, the US, the EU, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, and Germany. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi issued a statement highlighting the corridor’s expanding significance. The discussions centred on key players, including major shipping companies.

A high-level Indian team, led by TK Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, met with HE Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports. The delegation included Sunjay Sudhir, India’s Ambassador to the UAE; Rahul Mithal, CMD of RITES Ltd.; and Unmesh Wagh, Chairman of the JNPA. Before this, there were interactive discussions with terminal operators, shipping businesses, and customs officers.

The discussions also centred on the Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface (MAITRI), which was introduced during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to India in 2024. The platform incorporates trade portals, resulting in seamless digital connectivity.

MAITRI supports the Virtual Trade Corridor, which would improve trade efficiency between India and the UAE, where bilateral commerce exceeds $85 billion.

On March 3, 2025, the UAE and Senegal hosted the Organizational Session at the UN Headquarters in New York, officially launching preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference. As required by the resolution on the procedures of the 2024 Conference, this session gave Member States and interested parties the opportunity to suggest topics for six interactive discussions that would further Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) on water and sanitation.

H.E. Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, and H.E. Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Senegal’s Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, reaffirmed their commitment to promoting an inclusive and action-oriented conference. They emphasised the importance of global cooperation in addressing water scarcity, sanitation, and sustainability issues.

With 2.2 billion people without access to clean water and 3.5 billion without proper sanitation, Balalaa and Dieye urged everyone to work together to advance global water action.

The session was attended by important UN officials, NGOs, and members from the corporate sector. UN DESA plans to finalise potential themes by July 2025, followed by a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar before the December 2026 conference.

Russia has expressed its commitment to strengthening trade and energy cooperation with Myanmar despite international sanctions imposed on both nations. On March 4, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin informed Myanmar’s military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, that Moscow sees great opportunities for cooperation in a variety of industries, including agriculture, nuclear energy, and infrastructure.

“Despite illegitimate sanctions against both Russia and Myanmar, our trade and economic cooperation is expanding successfully, with mutual trade witnessing steady growth,” Mr. Mishustin stated. He emphasised that there is a lot of potential for continued collaboration in energy, transportation infrastructure, and peaceful nuclear technology.

Mishustin also claimed that Russian businesses are considering investing in Myanmar’s special economic zone in Dawei, a long-delayed project on the Andaman Sea that is envisioned as a vital industrial and transportation hub. However, he did not say which firms will be involved.

General Min Aung Hlaing, 68, who rarely travels internationally, was greeted by top Russian officials, including Sergei Shoigu, a key member of President Vladimir Putin’s security council.

Russia has been a strong ally of Myanmar’s military regime, providing air assistance and negotiating plans to construct a small nuclear power facility using an RITM-200 pressurised water reactor.

ITB Berlin 2025 remains the world’s most important travel industry event, bringing together worldwide exhibitors, trade professionals, and key decision-makers. Canada, India, Ireland, Turkey, Switzerland, Brazil, Malaysia, and the UAE are among the nations that are actively establishing new trends, influencing industry standards, and promoting the growth of the tourism business.

The event, themed “The World of Travel Lives Here,” will attract a diverse international audience. Two-thirds of exhibitors and nearly half of guests will represent global markets. ITB Berlin 2025 is organized both geographically and by sector, with specialised divisions such as Adventure Tourism, Business Travel, LGBTQ+ Travel, Luxury Travel, Medical Tourism, and Travel Technology.

Additionally, ITB Berlin Convention will act as the industry’s premier think tank, with expert panels, keynotes, and conversations on the future of global tourism. The theme for the 2025 convention will be “The Power of Transition Lives Here,” which will address the developing landscape of the travel industry. 

The event runs from March 4 to March 6 at Berlin ExpoCenter City and offers unparalleled opportunities for networking, business advancement, and industry insights. With Albania as the official host country, ITB Berlin 2025 promises to be a must-attend event for travel professionals worldwide.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reaffirmed the country’s ability to tackle developing global issues despite growing geopolitical uncertainty. On February 28, he concluded the Budget 2025 debate in Parliament by emphasising the importance of Singapore’s adaptability in a constantly changing global scene.

He promised that the government would continue to drive economic growth by creating excellent jobs and new opportunities for Singaporeans. At the same time, Singapore would prioritise industry transformation while remaining cost-competitive.

According to Wong, international powers are putting security concerns first, which is causing zero-sum rivalry to replace cooperative progress. This trend presents issues for small, open economies such as Singapore. While big powers may not seek direct conflict, they are bracing for increased rivalry, he cautioned.

To stay ahead, Singapore will enhance the National Productivity Fund, making it more appealing to investors. The government believes that these programs will improve employment chances for its inhabitants.

Furthermore, Singapore welcomes technology developments from other nations. However, leading technology providers are strengthening control over their intellectual ideas to prevent leakage.

Despite foreign constraints, Singapore remains dedicated to increasing domestic production, which has grown at a constant 2% per year between 2014 and 2024.