South Asia

South Asia is a vast, strategically important and heavily populated region which is currently in transition as it strives to set up effective economic, political and legal structures to support sustained growth. It is home to over one fifth of the world's population. Despite recent steps toward rapid development, the region remains one of the world's most disadvantaged; juxtaposing the political and security turmoil of Afghanistan and Pakistan with the emergent economic super-power status of democratic India. Added to the mix is Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries, and Sri Lanka which has been in a state of near civil war since 1983.

While all the South Asian nations are making strides toward development by aiming to improve the delivery of basic services such as education, healthcare, water and sanitation, conflict and political instability remain a major problem. Menas Associates has been carrying out an increasing number of projects on South Asia, and has an expert team of associates who have worked and lived in the region for decades. Our highly experienced head of the South Asia team has an international reputation for research in the geopolitics, development, social and environmental issues of the area.

In the last two decades, a number of South Asian countries have sought to expand domestic petroleum exploration by attracting private and foreign investors. They also plan to expand their refining and transportation capacities thus proving South Asia to be not only an emerging lucrative business investment opportunity, but one that is also wrought with risk. It is imperative that international investors are aware of all the potential pitfalls that might affect their business. Menas Associates consults on a wide range of non-technical issues facing multinational organisations, focusing on the political, the economic and security.

The countries of South Asia are looking to diversify their traditional energy supplies, promote additional foreign investment for energy infrastructure development, reform and privatise energy sectors, and promote and expand regional energy trade and investment. Menas Associates draws on its unique country expertise and network of external and in-house experts to provide clients with the necessary contextual understanding of the region and its trade practices in order to make well informed decisions about their business.