Main headlines from this issue

India has nearly $5bn of offset obligations under contract

India now has 25 defence offset contracts under implementation. Obligations total approximately Rs 29,274 Crore ($4.87bn). Contractors have up to 2022 to fully discharge their commitments. Another 45 contracts worth about $8bn-$10bn are in different stages of progress.

Rubber countertrade deal bounces between Thailand and China

The signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Thailand and China on a new 900km (559 mile)  railway development project under a countertrade payment structure was confirmed, denied, confirmed, then maybe’d in the space of a few days. The project is estimated to be worth almost $10bn.

Washington relents, Korean government can smile at last

Washington has finally approved the transfer by Lockheed Martin of 21 jet fighter technologies needed for Korea’s KF-X project. Four key technologies remain blocked. The 21 technologies comprise hundreds of separate technical items.

Poland looks East in development deal with Chinese bank

Poland has signed an MoA with China for strategic partnerships covering, among other things, agreement between Poland's Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK), The State Development Bank of Poland, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Poland wants to ensure access to the infrastructure projects market in Asia for Polish businesses.