Business Report :
The Federal Republic of Germany will provide 180 million euro (BDT 2265 crore) to Bangladesh for various development projects.
In this regard, financial and technical agreements on development cooperation have been signed between the two countries on Thursday.
Out of the total amount, EUR 45.8 million is for Technical Cooperation and up to EUR 135 million for Financial Cooperation.
Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh and Achim Tröster, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Bangladesh, signed the agreement on behalf of the two governments.
The signing ceremony was attended by officials from the Government of Bangladesh, the German Embassy in Dhaka, the German Development Bank KfW, the German technical cooperation agencies GIZ and BGR.
The cooperation under these agreements will take place in the areas of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (up to EUR 50.5 million), Sustainable Urban Development (up to EUR 95.5 million), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) (up to EUR 5.0 million), Socially and Environmentally Sound Supply Chains, Trade and Infrastructure (EUR 12 million), Protection of Biodiversity (up to EUR 6.0 million) and for a project on combating domestic violence against women and children (up to EUR 7.0 million).
Germany has provided over 3.5 billion EUR as financial and technical assistance for the development of Bangladesh since 1972.
German-Bangladesh Development Cooperation has a long-standing history in supporting infrastructure, health, poverty alleviation, good governance, and human rights, energy efficiency and renewable energy, climate change adaptation, said a spokesperson of the German Embassy.
The present agreement marks the continuation of successful bilateral cooperation that contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals.
“We are glad to continue our support for the Bangladeshi success story,” the German Ambassador said during the agreement signing ceremony.
“Bangladesh and Germany have embarked on a journey of cooperation that spans various sectors, from economic development and trade to education, health, and beyond.
At its core, this partnership is rooted in the shared values of democracy, inclusivity, and sustainable development”, said ERD Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky in his opening remarks.
He also mentioned that one of the hallmarks of Bangladesh-Germany bilateral cooperation is the commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity.
