economic resilience

India's second-largest shareholder, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), has launched a $10 billion fund to aid member nations grappling with the Middle East conflict's economic fallout. This facility offers crucial support for energy and food security, alongside economic resilience, through fast-disbursing aid and liquidity for affected countries and businesses.

US Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, on Wednesday, praised Japan's economic resilience and highlighted the importance of economic security during meetings with senior Japanese leaders on Tuesday as part of his Asia visit. The visit came ahead of US President Donald Trump's upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing from May 13-15.

In a significant step towards revitalizing its economy, Pakistan has wrapped up vital discussions with the IMF, centering on fiscal strategies and essential reforms. The dialogues emphasized changes in the energy sector, restructuring of state-owned enterprises, and efforts to draw in private investment.

With supply concerns mounting, crude oil prices have surged beyond the $100-per-barrel level, compared to nearly $70 before the conflict escalated. Brent crude, remaining above $111 per barrel, has triggered wider effects across fuel prices, currencies, trade activity, and financial markets.

Indore, Gwalior Top Vulnerability Charts Among 100 Cities

Escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have triggered a surge in US fuel prices, pushing inflation to a three-year high and eroding wage gains. While the US economy has shown resilience with steady consumer spending and job growth, persistent inflation threatens household budgets and consumer sentiment, with higher bond yields signaling deeper economic worries.

Billionaire Carlos Slim advocates for fiscal prudence during economic booms, a principle that strengthens companies for inevitable downturns. This approach counters the tendency for excessive spending and hidden inefficiencies that high revenues often mask. By focusing on waste prevention and retaining flexibility, businesses build resilience, enabling them to navigate crises without drastic measures.

Study Calls For Investment In Conservation And Restoration

The Indian Consulate in Shanghai hosted FICCI President Anant Goenka and Chinese business leaders to boost bilateral economic cooperation. Consul General Pratik Mathur highlighted India's economic vision and opportunities in advanced manufacturing, green tech, and the digital economy, emphasizing collaboration for mutual growth.

The government remains committed to reforms and policy certainty, aiming for macroeconomic stability and global competitiveness, according to Principal Secretary Shaktikanta Das. He urged Indian businesses to build resilience by strengthening balance sheets, diversifying markets, and investing in R&D. Recent FTAs are expected to boost integration into global value chains.

India is pivoting towards Europe as traditional partnerships become unreliable. The burgeoning India-Italy relationship, spearheaded by Prime Ministers Modi and Meloni, is central to this strategy. This partnership is building crucial economic architecture, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and a potential EU Free Trade Agreement, positioning Europe as India's primary strategic focus.

To increase resilience, massively scale up renewables, electrify transport, and make India attractive for world's best companies

Biodiversity is crucial for human survival, yet it's declining rapidly due to human actions. India is strengthening its conservation efforts, with local communities playing a vital role. Initiatives like restoring coastal ecosystems and creating micro-forests demonstrate how grassroots actions, empowered by traditional knowledge and community institutions, significantly contribute to global biodiversity goals and sustainable livelihoods.

Prime Minister Modi warned that ongoing global conflicts and instability risk undoing decades of development and plunging populations into poverty. Addressing the Indian diaspora in The Hague, he emphasized the critical need for resilient and trusted global supply chains, highlighting India's cooperation with the Netherlands in this area. He also celebrated the diaspora's cultural preservation and India's recent economic transformation.

Rupee depreciation is not new, what is new however is the rapid pace at which it is falling. It’s the biggest risk for India’s external sector resilience at the moment. In just over a year, the rupee has depreciated over 14%.

Indian markets mirrored global trends as US stocks dipped, pressured by rising oil prices and Treasury yields, despite Nvidia's stellar earnings. While AI enthusiasm cooled, a resilient US economy and strong export data from Japan offered some bright spots. However, concerns over geopolitical tensions and inflation persisted, impacting investor sentiment.