OWSA Contributor

The forum, which drew more than 2,000 participants – including 300 international delegates from countries such as the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, and Kenya – is aimed at showcasing investment opportunities in Pakistan’s mineral-rich provinces and regions, including Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to the US Trade Representative’s findings, Sri Lanka’s high tariff rates – among the world’s highest by certain metrics – along with unpredictable customs procedures and non-transparent policy shifts, have contributed to strained trade relations.

The regime’s spokesman, Zaw Min Tun, said in an audio statement that foreign media would not be allowed to report on the earthquake from inside the country. At the same time, the junta also imposed restrictions on local media.

According to the latest forecast from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bangladesh is expected to import 7.8 million bales of raw cotton in the current fiscal year, up from 7.5 million bales the previous year.

India played a key role as a co-chair in Sri Lanka’s overall debt restructuring discussions, making it a critical diplomatic player in the island nation’s path to financial recovery.

For businesses and policymakers alike, unpredictability and uncertainty in trade and investment is becoming a serious obstacle to growth and planning.

Despite being rich in natural resources such as natural gas, coal, gold, and copper, Balochistan remains one of the poorest regions in Pakistan. The benefits of resource extraction projects largely bypass the local population, fuelling resentment.

While the previous government’s reforms aimed at increasing transparency, efficiency, and private sector involvement, the Dissanayake administration appears to be prioritising a different approach, potentially curbing or modifying privatisation efforts.