The World Bank’s 2024 B-Ready Report reveals the steps ASEAN economies should take to build a more conducive, business-ready environment.

Social exclusion based on caste, frequent droughts, lack of employment opportunities and unproductive agricultural land are the factors that lead to the seasonal migration of marginalised communities from the Marathwada region to western Maharashtra to take up cane-cutting work during harvesting season. The Informal system of hiring through labour intermediaries has resulted in severe exploitation of women’s cane cutters as they are forced to live in makeshift tents with no basic water or sanitation facilities for women. The reluctance from the labour intermediaries to hire menstruating workers forces women to go through needless hysterectomies for fear of losing work. This is an alarming situation adversely affecting the reproductive health of women cane cutters which are the backbone of the sugarcane industry in Maharashtra.

Vietnam and Singapore enhance ties through leadership programmes, FDI, and economic collaboration, driving digital transformation and sustainability.

Kazakhstan seeks to reduce reliance on Russia for oil exports by exploring new routes like the Middle Corridor and Kazakhstan-China Pipeline.