India plans to turn neighbouring Bangladesh into its market following the operationalization of a $500 million line of credit for defence purchases. Bangladesh has purchased protective gear such as bulletproof jackets and helmets from India, but now both sides are looking at big-ticket items. Among the items that Bangladesh has shown an interest in are specialist vehicles from Tata and Mahindra, the Tejas combat aircraft, and the Dhruv light helicopter. These developments come at a time when India has sharpened its focus on getting a toehold in foreign markets, setting a target of $5 billion in defence exports by 2025.
