Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Mr. Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist based in Singapore with more than 30 years of experience in studying economic, political and security issues that shape the business environment in Asia. He co-ordinates the Asian business of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm, Centennial Group, directing its Asian economic research practice which provides in-depth analysis of macro trends in Asia. He works extensively with investment institutions, government agencies and corporations. Mr. Bhaskaran regularly presents his views on the economic, political and business environment in Asia at business conferences and in-house briefings. He has conducted studies on a wide range of subjects including: consumer finance in Asia; Asian integration; regional and country-specific political and economic outlooks; the Impact of China on Asia; portfolio capital flows in emerging markets, amongst many others. He is as a member of the Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific of the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Bhaskaran is a regular columnist for The Edge (Singapore) and holds positions in think tanks including being Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore, and Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Mr. Bhaskaran serves on the boards of CIMB Investment Bank and Japfa Limited.

Asia Economist and CEO

As Election Nears, Policy Will Be Focused on Growth

India: Cyclical Pickup Underway, Tinkering with GST Welcome, but Labour Reforms Needed

BJP Government in Overdrive with an Eye on 2019

India: Incremental Changes Unlikely to Jolt Economy Out of Slumber

India: Short-Term Relief with Long-Term Consequences

Centennial Asia Advisors

At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way. With over 30 years experience covering Asia’s political economy, you can be sure our conclusions and analyses are based on the unadulterated facts. Through years of fine-tuning our research methodologies, we deliver a quality of macroeconomic analysis few other houses can match.

Centennial Asia Advisors is an independent research and advisory firm that works with governments, multilateral institutions, financial firms and leading MNCs.

Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

<ul><li>Following the botched rollout of the demonetisation and the GST reforms, the Indian economy is normalising, with growth to pick up further in the quarters ahead. Buffeted by foreign reserves, the external accounts remain stable though the reliance on portfolio investment to finance the current account deficit is a concern.</li><li>The BJP government has eschewed further fiscal stimulus in favour of medium-term initiatives to jolt the economy out of its slumber. These measures address long-standing structural deficiencies and add up to provide a powerful impulse to growth.</li><li>Politically, the BJP remains the party to beat as it bested its rivals in the recent civic polls in Uttar Pradesh. All eyes are now on the Gujarat polls as the BJP government pulls out all the stops to secure a victory in Prime Minister Modi’s home state.  </li></ul>

Following the botched rollout of the demonetisation and the GST reforms, the Indian economy is normalising, with growth to pick up further in the quarters ahead. Buffeted by foreign reserves, the external accounts remain stable though the reliance on portfolio investment to finance the current account deficit is a concern.The BJP government has eschewed further fiscal stimulus in favour of medium-term initiatives to jolt the economy out of its slumber. These measures address long-standing structural deficiencies and add up to provide a powerful impulse to growth.Politically, the BJP remains the party to beat as it bested its rivals in the recent civic polls in Uttar Pradesh. All eyes are now on the Gujarat polls as the BJP government pulls out all the stops to secure a victory in Prime Minister Modi’s home state.  

India: Expect a Long-Overdue Return of Animal Spirits