The 8th Asian Economic Dialogue begins in India

The 8th Asia Economic Dialogue (AED) will begin today in Pune, Maharashtra, India.

This year’s gathering will focus on the theme of “geo-economic challenges in an era of flux”. The multilateral conference is jointly organized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Pune International Centre on contemporary issues. 46 speakers from 11 countries will contribute over the three-day dialogue.

The AED’s purpose is to broaden the scope of cooperation between Asian, particularly South Asian, states to find solutions to contemporary challenges by bringing experts together from across the region. This year’s theme highlights how India sees itself in the crosshairs of Western sanctions and domestic economic needs, particularly due to India’s need for Russian oil despite the invasion of Ukraine.

Short-term, expect this conference to moderately influence the geostrategic thinking of India’s smaller neighbors. They will likely realign their 2024 trade priorities closer to India’s goals. Medium-term, the AED will expand South Asian economic cooperation by bringing together an ‘Asian Davos’-like feel to the conference, attracting the region’s strongest economic minds.