Key insights

• ⚔️ China's Belt and Road initiative has gained the upper hand with its economic projects, fueling fears of encirclement
• 🏗️ India is launching ambitious commercial corridors to reconfigure trade in the region
• 🌏 Belt and Road Initiative aims to extend Chinese influence through infrastructure projects, excluding India to strengthen China's influence
• 🚂 India's response with the International North-South Transport Corridor aims to access European markets
• 🛣️ North-South Transport Corridor is faster and cheaper but faces challenges due to Iran's infrastructure and sanctions
• 🏠 India's 'Neighborhood First' policy aimed to counter China's influence has seen limited success
• 🌊 India's new commercial belt, the Arab Mediterranean route, aims to connect India to European markets
• 🌍 India seeks to tap into the Arab Mediterranean corridor for commerce, driven by climate change concerns in the Middle East

Q&A

• How is India leveraging the emerging Arab Mediterranean corridor?

  India is investing in new food parks and partnering with Israel and UAE for trade and infrastructure, but it faces geopolitical challenges in the Middle East while pursuing opportunities in the corridor.

• What drives India's initiative in the Arab Mediterranean corridor?

  India aims to tap into the corridor and develop value chains driven by the potential to address regional supply and demand amidst climate change concerns in the Middle East.

• What new plan is India pursuing in eurasian connectivity?

  India's new commercial belt, the Arab Mediterranean route, aims to connect India to European markets via existing road and rail infrastructure in the Middle East, signaling a paradigm shift in India's eurasian connectivity.

• What is the Asia-Africa growth corridor with Japan?

  The Asia-Africa growth corridor aimed to link India with Africa through shipping lanes but is viewed as a PR stunt due to limited progress and no disclosed African participating nations.

• What is India's 'Neighborhood First' policy?

  India's 'Neighborhood First' policy aims to counter China's influence in the region but has seen limited success, with some countries growing closer to China.

• What challenges does the North-South Transport Corridor face?

  The corridor faces obstacles due to Iran's infrastructure and sanctions, affecting its success as a faster and cheaper route for international trade.

• What is India's response to China's Belt and Road Initiative?

  In response, India is developing the International North-South Transport Corridor to enhance connectivity to European markets and counter China's exclusionary approach.

• What is China's Belt and Road Initiative?

  The Belt and Road Initiative aims to extend Chinese influence through infrastructure projects including overland corridors and maritime routes, excluding India to marginalize competition and strengthen China's influence, with potential military implications.

• What is India doing to counter China's influence in Asia?

  India is launching ambitious commercial corridors to reconfigure trade in the region, aiming to transform itself into a pillar of the globalized economy.

• 00:00 India and China are vying for influence in Asia through economic projects and trade corridors. China's Belt and Road initiative has raised concerns about encirclement, prompting India to launch its own commercial corridors to reconfigure trade in the region.
• 02:12 China's Belt and Road Initiative aims to create infrastructure connections through the overland corridor and maritime route, circumventing India to strengthen its influence in Central Asia and beyond. In response, India is developing the International North-South Transport Corridor to enhance connectivity to European markets.
• 04:32 The North-South Transport Corridor offers faster and cheaper routes for international trade but faces obstacles due to Iran's infrastructure and sanctions. India's 'Neighborhood First' policy aimed to counter China's influence but has seen limited success.
• 06:52 India's Asia-Africa growth corridor with Japan sees little progress, viewed as a PR stunt. New plan aims to connect India to European markets via the Arab Mediterranean route, signaling a paradigm shift in India's eurasian connectivity.
• 09:12 India aims to tap into the emerging Arab Mediterranean corridor to establish an arc of commerce extending from India to Europe, leveraging existing infrastructure and developing value chains. The initiative is driven by the potential to address regional supply and demand amidst climate change concerns in the Middle East.
• 11:19 India is investing in new food parks and partnering with Israel and UAE for trade and infrastructure, but faces geopolitical challenges in the Middle East. The Arab Mediterranean corridor presents opportunities but also complexities.