Center for Asian Studies

The programs and activities of the Center for Asian Studies would focus on stimulating discussion and analysis on relevant contemporary issues and to connect individuals and organizations in order to link academia, business and the policy world. While looking at policy issues in a larger framework, the centre would like to encourage the generation of ideas and concrete proposals that will result in enabling and facilitating increased economic opportunities in South Asia and South East Asia.

Concurrently, the Center would address the skill gap in researchers and analysts by providing methodological training for young researchers and analysts in the field of economic and financial analysis, through a rigorous, training programme, to improve skills.

Chennai has been chosen as the head quarters for the Centre for Asian Studies given the considerable intellectual talent as well as a number of tertiary institutions turning out a large number of graduates and post graduates annually. There is need to utilize these skills, and to upgrade them to make them relevant for contemporaneous analytical work. Senior academics and bureaucrats who have held important positions in the state and the centre, as well as intelligentsia have made Chennai an intellectual hub in India. However, there is little contemporary work on economics, international relations or business policy that is emanating out of Chennai. The Centre for Asia Studies is intended to fill this gap. It would consist of senior level researchers, supported by adequate research personnel, who would undertake detailed and analytical studies on contemporary issues.

The following are priority areas of work:
1. Research relating to macro economic policy, the financial markets, infrastructure, agriculture and international trade.
2. Information exchange within Asia through creation of an information network amongst researchers;
3. Setting up of a Global Forum on Asian Studies to improve complementarities amongst researchers;
4. Promotion of national participation in institutional networks and fora and the use of such networks for collaborations and partnerships and trade links within the region.