Global geopolitical shifts and supply chain de-risking present an opportunity for Bangladesh to position itself as a reliable, nonaligned manufacturing hub, according to industry experts. They say the shift is turning the country into an important link in the global “just in case” supply chain.
Amid rising sanctions and tariffs, companies are moving away from the “just in time” model, which prioritized efficiency, to a “just in case” approach that seeks resilience and alternatives to single-source dependence.
Peter Aukamp, an entrepreneur focused on sustainable industries, said Bangladesh is well placed to benefit from the strategic realignment. “Bangladesh is perfectly positioned to become one of these just in case places because it is nonthreatening and therefore will always be there as a reliable partner potentially,” Aukamp said.
Aukamp and others spoke at the Bay of Bengal Conversation 2025 in Dhaka organized by the Centre for Governance Studies on November 23, 2025.
The geopolitical opening also offers Bangladesh a chance to attract more foreign investment. Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, said the movement away from China represents “an opportunity for Bangladesh” to “grab Chinese investment in Bangladesh or investment from other countries.” He added that maintaining relations with Beijing remains essential, saying, “We have to keep continuing with the Chinese because that is also a big market for us.”
Bangladesh, however, faces significant trade imbalances with its largest partners. Thirty-one percent of its imports come from China and 14 percent from India. Bangladesh exports only about $900 million to China while importing roughly $18 billion. Exports to India total about $2 billion against $10 billion in imports.
To strengthen its economic resilience, Chowdhury said Bangladesh should consider diversifying its currency use, particularly in trade with China and India, by using the Chinese yuan or Indian currency instead of the U.S. dollar. He said such a shift could ease pressure on the country’s foreign reserves.