Opportunities For Infrastructure Development Research Articles

Foreign policy strategies of Nepal between China and India: bandwagon or hedging

AbstractNepal, a landlocked country situated between two nuclear states, has found bandwagoning with either China or India to be an impractical option. In the current scenario, Nepal has opted for a trend of hedging with both neighbors while adhering to a non-alignment foreign policy. Nepal aims to seek economic and infrastructure development opportunities from Beijing through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, which could help overcome geopolitical challenges. However, India is concerned about Nepal's growing relations with China, viewing it as a significant threat to India's interests in Nepal. Nepal remains committed to the principles of non-alignment in its foreign policy objectives. India perceives Nepal's current trend of hedging as a potential path toward future bandwagoning with China, given China's superior capabilities compared to India.

ТУРИСТИЧНІ ШЛЯХИ ЯК ЗАСІБ ПОПУЛЯРИЗАЦІЇ КУЛЬТУРНОЇ СПАДЩИНИ

The article presents the results of research on the prospects for developing tourist routes. In the modern world, where globalization and rapid technological advancement significantly alter our way of life, the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage gain particular importance. A crucial task today is the preservation and promotion of national cultural heritage. One of the effective ways to achieve this goal is the development of tourist routes, which not only preserve historical and cultural sites but also make them accessible to a wide audience. Cultural heritage can serve as an important factor in the development of tourism and the economy. Tourist routes not only contribute to the preservation and promotion of historical and cultural landmarks but also foster regional economic growth by attracting tourists. Research on these routes helps create conditions for the sustainable development of tourism. This is especially important in the context of globalization and the growing interest in cultural tourism, which allows countries and regions to maintain their identity and cultural uniqueness. Research on tourist routes helps identify new opportunities for infrastructure development, the creation of new jobs, and the improvement of the quality of life for local residents. Cultural tourism is a form of tourism that focuses on the cultural aspects of a destination, including its history, heritage, arts, customs, and traditions. It involves visiting places of historical or cultural significance, such as museums, galleries, historical sites, and cultural festivals, with the intent to learn about and experience the local culture and lifestyle. Tourist routes are a powerful means of promoting cultural heritage. By providing structured and engaging ways for visitors to experience cultural sites, these routes help preserve and celebrate the unique cultural identities of different regions. They offer educational benefits, support local economies, and foster a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and heritage. The article characterizes the main forms of tourist routes, highlighting their role in the preservation of cultural heritage.

РОЗВИТОК ДЕРЖАВНО-ПРИВАТНОГО ПАРТНЕРСТВА ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ З ДОСВІДУ СВІТОВОЇ ПРАКТИКИ

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is a strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors aimed at jointly addressing socio-economic challenges and achieving specific goals. This type of partnership is becoming increasingly relevant in today's world, where complex social, economic, and environmental challenges require a comprehensive approach to their resolution.PPP can encompass a wide range of areas, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, energy, technology, and many others. It is based on principles of mutual assistance, trust, risk sharing, and responsibility between government and private entities. At the international level, PPP plays a key role in jointly addressing global issues such as climate change, population growth, military conflicts, and poverty. International PPPs serve as a mechanism for leveraging resources and expertise from different countries and international organizations.Such partnerships facilitate more efficient use of resources, exchange of best practices and technologies, and contribute to strengthening international cooperation and understanding among nations. In practice, the partnership between the government and the private sector is focused on attracting investments for financing. Mutual economic interest arises when their strategic goals and tasks intersect. Government structures, along with businesses, aim to achieve global objectives through the application of commercial opportunities and focusing on enterprises to implement economic and social approaches, expand the economic sphere, and develop cooperation in the field of progressive solutions. Private enterprises, through joint cooperation with government authorities, aim to achieve their goals for development and protection of their interests. Ukraine is also actively developing PPP as a tool to improve management efficiency, attract investments, and implement strategic projects. Public-private partnership opens up new opportunities for infrastructure development, enhancing the competitiveness of the economy, and ensuring sustainable socio-economic growth.

ІМПЕРАТИВИ РОЗВИТКУ ГОТЕЛЬНО-РЕСТОРАННОЇ ІНДУСТРІЇ В УМОВАХ ВОЄННОГО СТАНУ: ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ВІДНОВЛЕННЯ

The article reveals the peculiarities of the imperatives for the development of the hotel and restaurant industry under martial law and identifies the priorities for the post-war restoration of this sector of the national economy. The article analyzes the key indicators of development of business entities in the field of temporary accommodation and catering, in particular, the number of employees, the number of operating business entities and the volume of products (goods, services) sold. The article analyzes tax revenues to the state budget of Ukraine from business entities in the field of temporary accommodation and catering. The author highlights a number of prospects for the restoration of the hotel and restaurant industry in the wartime and postwar periods. It is established that the hotel and restaurant industry of Ukraine, despite significant losses and damages, including destruction, needs to develop a strategic vision of the prospects for future activities It has been established that the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine has great potential for the development of the hotel and restaurant industry, as after the war many new opportunities for infrastructure development may appear, including hotels, leisure centers and recreation centers. This will lead to an increase in consumers of hotel and restaurant services. However, in order to fully realize the potential of the hotel and restaurant industry, it is necessary to take into account such aspects as improving the quality of hotel and restaurant services, developing effective marketing strategies, and supporting small and medium-sized businesses operating in the hotel and restaurant industry. Therefore, it is worth noting that the future of the hotel and restaurant business in Ukraine depends on the scale of destruction and the pace of reconstruction during the war and post-war periods, the migration processes of the population and potential employees in the hotel and restaurant business, and, above all, the level of solvency of the population as potential future customers. At the same time, the successful development of the hotel and restaurant industry will contribute to Ukraine's economic growth.

BRI Economic Corridors: Implications for Future Economic Development in Global Recession

This article explores the implications of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Economic Corridors for future economic development, especially in the context of the current global recession. The BRI, launched by China in 2013, aims to connect Asia, Europe, and Africa through a network of infrastructure projects, including the development of economic corridors. These corridors are expected to boost trade, investment, and economic growth in the participating countries. The article provides an overview of the BRI and its economic corridors and discusses the potential benefits and challenges of the initiative. It analyzes the impact of the global recession on the BRI and how the initiative can help mitigate the effects of the crisis. The article also examines the role of the BRI in promoting sustainable development and addressing environmental concerns. A qualitative research methodology will be implemented based on a market analysis, expert interpretations, literature review, and assessment of online sources. Moreover, the article will cover the politico-economic considerations, infrastructure development opportunities, shipping and transportation facilitation, along with trade facilitation and opportunities along the corridors. The article recommends that policymakers and stakeholders work together to maximize the benefits of the BRI while minimizing the risks and negative impacts. The study concludes that the BRI Economic Corridors have the potential to become a major driver of economic development, particularly in the face of the current global recession. However, the success of the initiative will depend on addressing several challenges, including governance, financing, and environmental sustainability.

The new equation of South Asia region: The rising role of China in Nepal's foreign policy

China's rising role in South Asia has contributed significantly to the changing geopolitics and geo-economics of the region. Nepal is one of the countries where relations with China have dramatically changed from 2015 till pre-pandemic. This study focuses on analyzing Nepal's foreign policy shifts towards neighboring China and India through a framework of neoclassical realism. It argues that Nepal's foreign policy against neighboring countries has changed since the India-Nepal conflict in 2015, where China has become a key option within Nepal's new foreign policy context. Changes in China's foreign policy and the victory of the Nepal Communist Party are among the key factors in enhancing relations between the two countries. However, it doesn't mean that Nepal took side with China and abandoned India. The article suggests that China's rise has a positive effect on Nepal as an option to balancing intra-regional power and opportunities for infrastructure development within the country.

LDC Infrastructure Development in the Era of 'Nationalistic Rhetoric': Do International Investments Agreements Still Mitigate Sovereign Risk and If Not, Does It Matter?

Less Developed Countries (LDCs) provide enormous opportunities for companies involved in the development of infrastructure. LDCs couple significant need with often insufficient 'in country' capability or expertise, meaning that foreign companies willing to expand operations into LDCs can find interesting and profitable opportunities. International infrastructure development naturally brings with it the sovereign risks associated with contracting with the government of a LDC. During the last thirty years, governments of LDCs have actively sought the execution of International Investment Agreements (IIAs) with other nations in an attempt to mitigate the appearance of sovereign risk and encourage greater international investment. This has included encouraging foreign companies in the delivery of infrastructure projects. 
 
 In the last five years, however, worldwide political support for IIAs seems to be waning, as nationalism and populism threatens to replace globalism and multiculturalism as the dominant economic and political theories in the USA, Europe and Great Britain. In a global political landscape dominated by nationalistic rhetoric, we are unlikely to see continued popular support for the protection of foreign companies against national interests by way of IIAs. We are likely to see not only fewer new IIAs, but conceivably governments revoking their agreement to existing IIAs coupled with waning support for ICSID arbitrations. The author submits, however, that there will not necessarily be a marked increase in sovereign risk as a direct result, and that LDCs will continue to provide worthwhile markets and opportunities for infrastructure development.
 
 The author submits that IIAs never in any event provided complete protection, and that protection against sovereign risk remains available through the underlying contract and in many cases, through political risk insurance. Further, international participants should look at projects with shorter timeframes to secure the return on investment, and avoiding taking sole risk on project by operating in joint ventures.

ЦИФРОВАЯ ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ МИРОВОЙ ЭКОНОМИКИ

In modern conditions the role of digitalization which is becoming the main factor of the development of the world economy, is growing significantly, as the competitiveness of individual countries is determined by the level of implementation of innovative banking technologies as a tool for creating digital financial ecosystems. At the same time, there are considered key indicators of bank customers activities related to Internet access and infrastructure development opportunities, the consumer demand for digital technologies, the specific application of legislative norms in this area, the development of innovations in individual countries based on additional investment in the latest technologies and digital start-ups. There is given the definition of the concept of digital economy, analysis of the development of digitalization in terms of its use in various areas: financial, production, trade, social. Within the framework of the national approach, digitization, for which a cyclical character is typical, is considered in detail. So, initially new technologies actively developed in the USA, Germany, Japan and other developed countries, but now these countries reduce the pace of growth of technological implementations, and the less developed countries, where the rates of digitalization are more significant. The article presents dividing countries in four categories, according to the growth of digitalization of the economy. In the world economy, the key to stability and high competitiveness in the long term should be the policy of continuous innovations, which requires from banks and other market participants to make quick and radical decisions that often affect their financial behavior and strategic line of development. Thus, the indicators of the involvement of countries in digital banking indicate that this type of banking activity is gaining momentum, and digitalization is currently the main vector of world development.

Abstract W MP25: Intravenous Thrombolysis in India: The Indo-US Stroke Project

Background: There is limited information concerning stroke thrombolysis in developing countries like India. We investigated the frequency, barriers and outcomes after thrombolysis in 5 high-volume hospitals across India. Methods: The Indo-US Stroke Registry and Infrastructure Development Project, jointly funded by NINDS and the Indian Department of Biotechnology, currently include 5 geographically diverse centers in North and South India and one in Boston, USA. Trained MD co-investigators and research coordinators prospectively collect data on consecutive adult patients with imaging-confirmed ischemic stroke <2 weeks after symptom onset. Data is entered into a central web-based electronic database. Results: From Nov-2012 to July-2014, 1944 patients were enrolled. Two hundred and eighty six were eligible for tPA. A total of 215 patients (11% of the total cohort and 75% of tPA-eligible patients) received thrombolysis including 139 of 188 patients who arrived <3h after onset and 76 of 98 who arrived between 3-4.5 h. Mean age was 59±15 years (range 48-69 years) and 68% were male. Stroke risk factors included hypertension (75%), diabetes (48%), hyperlipidemia (18%), coronary artery disease (27%), rheumatic heart disease (12%), atrial fibrillation (9%) and myocardial infarction (10%).The median NIHSS score was 10 (Interquartile range: 6-14). Hospital arrival was via EMS (3%), private transportation (50%) and transfer from another hospital (49%). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was documented in 15 patients. Barriers of thrombolysis among patients otherwise eligible for thrombolysis included inability to afford tPA (n=15), patients/family refusal (n=32), delay in stroke diagnosis (n=6), and/or other in-hospital delays (n=9). Conclusions: Thrombolysis is frequently administered in large academic hospitals in India, with acceptable safety. The relative lack of ambulance services, delay in arrival and diagnosis, and high cost of tPA are opportunities for infrastructure development.

Baseline health situation of communities affected by the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project in central Lao PDR and indicators for monitoring

Hydroelectric projects offer opportunities for infrastructure development and economic growth; yet, if not well designed, implemented and operated, they have the potential to negatively affect the health and well-being of local and distant downstream communities. Remote rural populations are particularly vulnerable to the sudden influx of men, materials and money, and associated population mixing that accompany project construction phases. Two large-scale baseline health surveys, carried out in 2001/2002 in two communities that were affected by the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project in central Lao PDR, were analysed. For the population to be resettled on the Nakai plateau it was observed that access to clean water and basic sanitation facilities was lacking. Faecal examinations revealed a high infection prevalence for Ascaris lumbricoides (67.7%), but relatively low prevalences for hookworm (9.7%), Taenia spp. (4.8%), Enterobius vermicularis (4.4%), Trichuris trichiura (3.9%), Strongyloides stercoralis (1.4%) and Opisthorchis viverrini (0.9%). For the population in the Xe Bang Fai downstream area, rapid diagnostic tests for malaria carried out in the rainy season found a prevalence below 1%, which might be explained by the complete coverage of households with insecticide-treated nets (99.8%). Anthropometric measurements in both populations suggest that wasting, stunting and underweight in under 5-year-old children were moderate to high; 15.9–17.5%, 40.4–55.7% and 35.8–55.7%, respectively. One out of six individuals aged above 14 years were malnourished, most likely as a result of early childhood wasting. Moderate anaemia, assessed by age- and sex-specific haemoglobin levels, was present in 43.8% (Nakai) and 54.9% of the individuals examined (Xe Bang Fai). Several indicators were extracted that can be utilised for monitoring changes in health, well-being and equity, as the project is implemented and operated.

DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS FIELDS: IMPLICATIONS FOR OPTIMUM LONG-TERM RECOVERY

Technology used in the Australian offshore oil and gas industry in recent years has diversified with the introduction of innovative concepts for field developments. These innovations are aimed at cost reduction and greater access to reserves, especially those in small and remote fields. Further innovations are anticipated as research progresses in several areas of potential cost reduction. Changes in technology can dramatically affect the relative economics of data acquisition, contingency planning and the extent of field development. Drilling and workover economics, well servicing, reservoir surveillance and the opportunities for infrastructure development are strongly dependent on the choice of development technology. These choices, in turn, have implications for long-term recovery, including the discovery and development of new pools and extensions to known pools, overall field recovery factors, the opportunities for development of gas caps and nearby fields, and the future potential for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).Government involvement in development approvals in various countries has diverse objectives. The Australian Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act specifies as one objective the optimum long-term recovery of petroleum. Critical areas of interest are pre-development planning with necessarily incomplete information, the phenomenon of unexpected reserves growth, and provision for contingencies such as well failures. Early drilling and completion decisions and infrastructure planning have major effects on future developments. Subjects of direct relevance for future improvements in development economics include reductions in pipeline construction costs, reductions in the cost of drilling from mobile rigs and flexibility in completion design.