The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited in Bangladesh organized an event on August 11 titled “Navigating Global Trade: Future-Proofing Bangladesh” highlighting the latest global and Asian market developments and sharing a perspective on Bangladesh.
As part of HSBC’s ongoing engagement with the business community, the forum invited its valued clients to share timely updates on the evolving trade outlook, global economic shifts, and implications for Bangladesh’s export sectors.
The event aimed to provide strategic insights to help businesses navigate uncertainty and adapt to a changing global environment.
The event featured Aditya Gahlaut, managing director and regional head of global trade solutions for Asia at HSBC, who opened the session.
He argued that five decades of trade being organized around a single principle - efficiency - have given way to an environment in which corporates must actively choose their strategic positioning across four dimensions: supply chain strategy; capital deployment; revenue model and AI Commitment, each carrying a distinct capital cost.
Gahlaut positioned HSBC's balance sheet, global network, and structuring capabilities as a common enabler for clients navigating all four choices.
This was followed by a keynote presentation by Shanella L Rajanayagam, senior trade economist, HSBC Global Research UK, where she examined the immediate disruptions facing global trade and their specific implications for Bangladesh.
Rajanayagam noted that while global trade ended 2025 on a strong footing, downside risks - from shipping disruption to US trade policy uncertainty - warrant close monitoring in the year ahead, alongside the structural questions raised by LDC graduation.
Ahmad Rabiul Hasan, country head, global trade solutions, HSBC Bangladesh also spoke, while Md Mahbub ur Rahman, chief executive officer, HSBC Bangladesh attended the event.
The speakers during the event shared their views on the evolving trade environment, macroeconomic outlook, global headwinds, competitiveness of Bangladesh’s export sectors, and HSBC’s commitment to facilitate the evolving landscape.
During his presentation, Aditya Gahlaut highlighted the capital choices facing corporates today.
He mentioned: “Over the past few years, a series of unsettling events has changed how corporates think about resilience. It’s not just an operational ambition - it’s a balance sheet decision, often requiring difficult trade-offs on capital and liquidity. Each one of these choices requires capital - to commit, to hedge, to fund the transition, and to make the new operating model real. Different clients will make different choices, but HSBC is the common denominator that can support them all.”
Shanella L Rajanayagam, senior trade economist, HSBC Global Research UK said: “Global trade is facing disruption on multiple fronts from shipping shocks to shifting US tariff policy and rising protectionism. With Bangladesh preparing to graduate from least developed country status against this tougher global backdrop, securing preferential market access through trade deals matters more than ever.”
Md Mahbub ur Rahman, CEO, HSBC Bangladesh, said: “As global trade reshapes, new corridors of opportunity are opening for Bangladesh. Powered by strong domestic demand, a dynamic young workforce, and rising trade volumes, Bangladeshi businesses are exceptionally positioned to navigate this transformation, move up the global value chain, and thrive on the world stage.”
Ahmad Rabiul Hasan, country head, global trade solutions, HSBC Bangladesh said: “HSBC has had the privilege of supporting local and multinational businesses as they innovate, evolve, and connect with global opportunities. We are proud to be the leading trade bank in the country, but more importantly, we are proud to be a trusted partner to our clients.”
Global trade continues to evolve amidst rising macroeconomic pressures, regulatory shifts, and changing supply chain priorities. In this dynamic environment, businesses are re-evaluating their trade and treasury strategies to remain resilient and competitive.
To explore these developments, HSBC Bangladesh brought together expert perspectives of the future of trade and finance.
The session reaffirmed HSBC’s commitment to being a trusted trade partner to Bangladeshi businesses, enabling them to stay globally connected and resilient in a fast-changing world.