Our experts' views and opinions on topical issues

Our Opinions

The GPI draws on both a rich pool of international thinkers, academics, and professionals from diverse backgrounds, including international affairs, banking and finance, industry, technology and science, media and international organisations. What we all have in common is a strong belief that new and fresh ideas are needed for a rapidly changing world, and a shared dedication to devising innovative yet practical policy solutions to that can make a real difference.

UK Autumn Financial Statement

Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement will be judged in terms of its perceived ability to lift the UK economic growth rate. The signs are not propitious, most economic commentators, taking account of the lack of growth over the past two quarters,...
Read More

A Perfect Economic Storm Can Bangladesh Cope with the Shocks?

The economic turbulence that Bangladesh is currently going through has caused a rapid increase in food and energy prices. This has affected low and middle-income families who spend a large share of their income on food. With huge uncertainties, how...
Read More

Amid Western sanctions, Putin courts Southeast Asia at belt and road forum

Several Southeast Asian leaders were feted by Russian President Vladimir Putin at last week’s Belt and Road Forum in Beijing as part of his pivot to Asia, elevating the importance of the region’s political centrality and economic vitality to Russia’s Indo-Pacific...
Read More

In Thailand, China’s EV makers have found a refuge from EU subsidy probe

The European Union’s call to investigate Beijing’s use of state subsidies in the production of Chinese electric vehicles, along with the possibility of tariffs on EV exports to Europe, comes as Chinese carmakers diversify their manufacturing of EVs into Southeast Asia. Chief...
Read More

The USA’s Indo-Pacific Strategy: Overestimating the China threat and ignoring East Asian reality

What the USA has labelled the Indo-Pacific (I-P) has become a central arena in the USA’s conflict with China. A conflict that has rapidly developed over the last 5 years from a trade dispute to a broad and increasingly ideologically...
Read More

Did the conference speeches reveal an economic vision for the UK?

In his party conference speech, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt painted a rosy picture of our future leadership in technology sectors. His words didn’t match the scale of the economic challenge. In the Labour conference, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves avoided the trap...
Read More

Handing over Governance to the Technocrats

The recently published Bank of England (BoE) update on its secondary objectives: a secondary competition objective (SCO and a secondary competitiveness and growth objective (SCGO), both delivered via the Bank’s Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) role is a significant annual event...
Read More

The Future Impact of the BRICS: A Reality Check

The recent meeting of the BRICS in South Africa, or to give its full title – The BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Universal Security, and Innovative Growth – witnessed its substantial enlargement, from the initial five countries of Brazil, Russia,...
Read More

Can Passing New Laws Ensure Safer Roads in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, a country of 165 million people has an annual road traffic accident fatality rate per capita that is twice as high compared with high-income countries and five times that of the best-performing countries globally. Incidents rise sharply during Eid...
Read More

The Intensifying Semiconductor War against China

There is little doubt that on October 7th, 2022, by intensifying and widening its export controls the US engaged in a “hot war” against China by attempting to destroy that country’s  capacity to develop further its semiconductor industry. The US...
Read More

Franco-German cooperation will be crucial for the future of European security

After one year of war in Ukraine, it is evident that European countries must significantly increase their defence spending and rebuild their capabilities. Whilst it is true that Germany has taken some independent steps forward regarding defence, this is not...
Read More

Brave (and Smart) New World: AI Opportunities for Education

I believe that the recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) offer immense opportunities for the field of education. The recent developments in artificial intelligence have created a wave of fear-based responses in the education sector. Many schools and policymakers have...
Read More

EU Rules On Crypto-assets Elevate The Bloc As Sector’s Key Global Trading Hub

The European Union’s (EU) regulation on markets in crypto-assets (MiCA) brings crypto-assets, crypto-assets issuers and crypto-asset service providers under a harmonized legal framework covering this sector for the first time.  Given the global nature of crypto-markets, it is anticipated that...
Read More

The Unsolved Mystery of the BDR Mutiny

25 February 2023 marked the fourteenth anniversary of the mutiny carried out by the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). Despite multiple investigations, questions surrounding the motives of the mutineers, why they took such extreme actions, and if there was a conspiracy...
Read More

From Rags to Stitches: Examining Bangladesh’s RMG Sector

Post-independence, Bangladesh has quickly transformed itself into a manufacturing powerhouse in readymade garments (RMG), the country’s highest export income earner. Despite the impressive economic growth, devastating fires and building collapses have become all too common in Bangladesh. Is the RMG...
Read More