Germany to support Bangladesh reforms, promised €600m for renewable energy
The envoy said German support to Bangladesh would be demand-driven
German Ambassador Achim Tröster paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his office at Tejgaon in Dhaka today (18 September). Photo: PID
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German Ambassador Achim Tröster paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his office at Tejgaon in Dhaka today (18 September). Photo: PID
Germany will support the reform initiatives of the interim government and has promised €600 million for renewable energy in Bangladesh, German Ambassador Achim Tröster said today (18 September).
The German ambassador expressed his country’s support when he paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at his office at Tejgaon in Dhaka, read a press release from the press wing of the chief adviser.
The envoy said Germany had a long-standing relationship with Bangladesh and in recent years it became one of the largest development partners of the country with aid amounting to over one billion euro.
Tröster said the German support to Bangladesh would be demand-driven. Germany has already proposed a concrete €50 million aid for renewable energy in Bangladesh, he said.
The ambassador said Germany would also lend €600 million over a period of eight years for renewable energy.
“This is a privileged programme,” he said, adding Bangladesh is one of a handful of countries who have got this project aid.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus recalled his long friendship with German leaders, saying he frequently attended the anniversaries of the fall of Berlin Wall.
Professor Yunus sought more German investment in Bangladesh and its expertise and technology to fight corruption.
He said the nation was united behind the students and youth who have ushered in a new era of hope for the country.
“Now we have to focus on their aspirations. We have to help them become entrepreneurs,” he said.
He further said his government would be keen to cut any obstacles to German investment in Bangladesh. He sought more private German funding for renewable energy and green transition.
Lutfey Siddiqi, the special envoy of the chief adviser, briefed the German envoy about reforms in the Bangladesh investment development authority, mentioning that German and Bangladeshi firms can create green corridors.
Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary of SDG affairs, Uttam Kumar Karmaker, additional secretary of ERD, Kazi Russel Pervez, a director general of the foreign ministry, and Jan Janowski, deputy chief of mission of the German embassy were also present.
