Owing to a strong cultural and historical bond, India and Southeast Asia have progressed rapidly. Though there are political and ideological differences between these two entities, it may not hamper the strong bond as there are many common shared values among these nations. The history of these nations identifies that the cooperation between them in terms of trade and commerce is not upheld per the given potential of these nations. In the past, the Indian economy was linked with Southeast Asian countries under the “Look East” policy, which has been re-energized again under the present government. Now, the “Look East” policy is practically more vibrant than ever before with the motto “Act East.” This policy facilitates these countries in emphasizing the importance of better regional connectivity for tourism as well as robust trade and commerce. It leads to a phenomenal growth in terms of imports and exports for these countries. Evaluating Trade and Economic Relations Between India and Southeast Asia sheds light on the trade and economic linkages between India and Southeast Asia and their impact on the nations in the past, present, and for the future. The chapters study whether the win-win strategy works for the strengthening of these countries in terms of both trade relations and political integrity, as well as in facing common enemies across international boundaries. Some of the topics covered include food security, tourism opportunities, trade blocs, trade relations, and economic relations between countries. This book is a valuable reference tool for economists, government officials, policymakers, trade analysts, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in the policies and relations between India and Southeast Asia that affect trade and the economy.

This report analyzes how closer regional connectivity and economic integration between South Asia and Southeast Asia can benefit both regions, with a focus on the role played by infrastructure and public policies in facilitating this process. It examines major developments in South Asian–Southeast Asian trade and investment, economic cooperation, the role of economic corridors, and regional cooperation initiatives. In particular, it identifies significant opportunities for strengthening these integration efforts as a result of the recent opening up of Myanmar in political, economic, and financial terms. This is particularly the case for land-based transportation—highways and railroads—and energy trading. The report’s focus is on connectivity in a broad sense, covering both hardware and software, including investment in infrastructure, energy trading, trade facilitation, investment financing, and support for national and regional policies.

The 2021 edition of the Outlook addresses reallocation of resources to digitalisation in response to COVID-19, with special focuses on health, education and Industry 4.0. During the COVID-19 crisis, digitalisation has proved critical to ensuring the continuity of essential services.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is strategically significant because of its size, dynamism, and role in the Asian economic and security architectures. This paper examines how ASEAN seeks to strengthen these assets through "centrality" in intraregional and external policy decisions. It recommends a two-speed approach toward centrality in order to maximize regional incomes and benefit all member economies: first, selective engagement by ASEAN members in productive external partnerships and, second, vigorous policies to share gains across the region. This strategy has solid underpinnings in the Kemp-Wan theorem on trade agreements. It would warrant, for example, a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement with incomplete ASEAN membership, complemented with policies to extend gains across the region. The United States could support this framework by pursuing deep relations with some ASEAN members, while broadly assisting the region's development.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced countries around the globe into lockdown, imposing trade and travel restrictions with devastating economic impacts on all sectors of the economy. In working toward greater economic stability, Australia has been strengthening its trade relations with other countries, which is reflected through its increased strategic relations with India. However, it is now essential to explore how Australia is working to further expand its collaboration with other South Asian countries and find new markets and opportunities for trade, investment, tourism, international education, and business dealings for its resources, services, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Strategic Cooperation and Partnerships Between Australia and South Asia: Economic Development, Trade, and Investment Opportunities Post COVID-19 provides an overview of the Australian trade and investment relationship with South Asian countries and identifies the trends and developments of bilateral trade agreements in strategic areas of trade, tourism, investment, education, prior and post COVID-19. Covering topics such as international trade, climate change policy, and macroeconomics, it is ideal for policymakers, practitioners, industry professionals, government officials, academicians, researchers, instructors, and students.

Pilgrimage routes face challenges such as fragmented experiences, inadequate infrastructure, and limited knowledge, hindering their full potential and economic benefits. Esteemed academic scholars Vítor João Pereira Domingues Martinho, João Augusto Guerra da Rocha Nunes, Maria Jesus Pato, and Liliana Castilho offer a compelling solution in their book, Experiences, Advantages, and Economic Dimensions of Pilgrimage Routes. Through meticulous research, the book provides valuable insights to enhance the pilgrimage experience and unlock the economic potential of these routes. It presents alternative paths to harmonize pilgrims' journeys and addresses the issue of fragmented experiences. This essential resource serves students, researchers, local authorities, municipalities, and policymakers, creating a platform for engaging in discussions and fostering improvements in pilgrimage routes. Covering a wide range of topics, including heritage, culture, spirituality, tourism, regional development, and rural planning, the book offers a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between pilgrimage routes and societal aspects. Experiences, Advantages, and Economic Dimensions of Pilgrimage Routes empowers readers to contribute to the transformation and revitalization of these sacred paths, allowing for their continued significance and economic prosperity.

Entrepreneurs are exceptionally gifted individuals capable of spotting projects, marshaling resources, inventing ideas, taking risks, and forming businesses. Prospective entrepreneurs must be inspired and motivated to pursue self-employment businesses in today’s volatile business environment and highly sophisticated information technologies. However, governments have been attempting to promote entrepreneurship by assisting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs’ primary challenges are lack of working capital and marketing challenges. Entrepreneurship is a combination of difficult-to-teach skills, attitudes, and knowledge that can be developed. Entrepreneurship Ecosystems and Their Opportunities and Challenges explores and examines the importance of these factors in establishing a virtuous cycle of long-term sustainability in countries worldwide. The book promotes global communities to acquire an entrepreneurial mindset. Covering topics such as crowdfunding experiences, financial solutions, and social enterprises, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for entrepreneurs, business leaders, government officials, students and educators of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

This book brings into focus India's relations with ASEAN and Thailand in particular. In the 1990s, India revived its relations with Southeast Asia. Yet, in comparison to China, India continued to be a distant neighbour. Hence, India has once again, through its 'Look and Act East' policies become intertwined with its immediate neighbours in the East, especially with Thailand. The objective of the book is to contextualise India's relations and influence in Southeast Asia over a period of nearly two thousand years, through culture and religion. The scope of the book extends beyond bilateral issues to include the multilateral, bringing in issues of trade negotiations under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Indo-Pacific construct. As ASEAN's importance grows in the regional and global landscape, there are ramifications for its relations with its traditional partners. The volatility and suspicion among the major powers, especially USA and China harbour the potential to disunite ASEAN. A rising India seeks a united and strong ASEAN both as a natural partner and in a bid to balance China's growing assertiveness and deep pockets. Based on interviews conducted with experts , diplomats and scholars in the field, this book encompasses a wide range of aspects that pertain to the historical, cultural, economic and strategic international relations of ASEAN and Thailand with India.

The knowledge economy is the added non-monetary value that society accrues from increased access to data, information, and knowledge in the new, globally connected world. ICT and technology innovation are paving the way for significant economic development opportunities for countries that have embarked in a concerted effort to model their economies according to the knowledge economy principles. Among developing countries, knowledge economy principles are being applied mostly in a sector-wise level, where government intervention with enabling policies coupled with joint efforts by the private sector, academia, and other actors are resulting in durable and sustainable benefits. Cases on Applying Knowledge Economy Principles for Economic Growth in Developing Nations examines cases from developing countries in order to derive an adapted model of knowledge economy that could be applied to developing country conditions. This book contributes to the change of paradigm on how to help developing countries in advancing to better conditions by using ICT-related technology. Covering topics such as learning organizations, green technology, and sustainable organizations, this is a dynamic resource for emerging economies, researchers, students, professors, academicians, and multilateral organizations helping developing countries.

The monetary instability experienced in recent years imposes enormous costs worldwide and has led to calls for a reset of the international monetary system. To avoid the problem arising again, the value of money must once again be defined in terms of some real commodity or commodities, as it has been for most of history. However, making currencies convertible into gold once again would be no panacea. A better alternative, first proposed in the 19th century and advocated in the 20th century, is for money to be made convertible into a range of commodities other than gold. Stabilizing Currency and Preserving Economic Sovereignty Using the Grondona System discusses how a sustainable basis for sovereign national money systems can be simply achieved by implementing the “Grondona System,” whereby the value of currency is stabilized by making it conditionally convertible into a range of primary commodities. Covering a range of topics such as economic growth, fiat money, and digital currencies, this book is ideal for policymakers, economists, investors, academicians, researchers, instructors, and students.