Focus Neighbourhood: Opium Cultivation Ban Costs Afghan Farmers $1.3 Billion, World Bank Reports
Opium Cultivation Ban Costs Afghan Farmers $1.3 Billion, World Bank Reports Afghanistan Times | 5th May According to a new report by the World Bank, the ban on opium cultivation in Afghanistan has resulted in a substantial loss of $1.3 billion for farmers, equivalent to approximately 8 percent of the nation’s GDP. The report highlights a […]
Central Asia Digest | April 2024

Political Developments British Foreign Secretary David Cameron paid a five-day visit to all five Central Asian states (and Mongolia). This was the first time a British foreign secretary ever visited Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, and the first to visit Uzbekistan since 1997. Prior to Cameron’s tour, the government said the foreign secretary would use […]
Indian Ocean Rim | 8th May 2024

In a significant move India plans to leverage a new case filed by its Indian Ocean partner South Africa challenging the strict food safety regulations imposed by the EU on citrus fruit. Interestingly, it is election season in S Africa as the country votes for new Parliament end of May. And a disorganized Opposition may […]