Finance and Economy

Government sources, however, said trade and export expansion – including talks on the stalled Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and China – is likely to be high on the agenda.

Tourism accounts for 6.98 percent of the state’s GDP and is considered a key sector of Kashmir’s economy; 80 percent of Kashmir’s population, which is 12.5 million, is directly or indirectly dependent on it.

This is the first time the federal government will directly tap capital markets through a sustainable finance mechanism.

The report stresses that as the world stares down the possibility of a widespread recession, the urgency for cohesive, multilateral solutions has never been greater.

Despite their marginal impact, many of these countries could face tariff rates as high as 50 per cent, such as Lesotho, while Cameroon could face 11 per cent.

When he was elected for a second term, President Donald Trump promised extraordinary, history-making change. Whether you support his world view or not, no one can deny he has been true to his word. The previous multilateral consensus is shattered.

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.