NEW DELHI: In an era of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and climate challenges, global cooperation remains vital for economic stability and security, ministers from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Albania emphasized at the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2025.
“We are living in a politically divided world. The next generation is asking us what we are doing for them. The world demands a peaceful environment for business. All leaders must work together,” said Sri Lanka’s Minister for Industries, Sunil Handunneththi, during a panel discussion.
The Shift to a Multipolar World
Myanmar’s Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, Kan Zaw, highlighted the decline of a unipolar world order dominated by a single superpower.
“A unipolar world will not emerge again—it is a thing of the past. We are now in a multipolar world where, beyond the US and China, India and BRICS nations are rising as economic powerhouses. Myanmar remains neutral and collaborates with all friendly international partners,” Zaw stated.
Albania’s EU Aspirations & Global Challenges
Albania, which is actively working toward EU membership by 2029, is aligning itself with Western economic and political policies, said Olta Manjani, Albania’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Culture, and Innovation.
“It is the best and worst of times. We face critical issues, including climate change, and the world is both more united and more divided than ever. Leaders like Donald Trump raise skepticism about global institutions, while populism, nationalism, and protectionist policies create real challenges,” Manjani noted.
With rising economic and geopolitical shifts, the panel stressed that international cooperation is the only path forward to ensure stability and prosperity in an increasingly uncertain world.
