Germany has pledged 191 million euros to Bangladesh, signaling its commitment to support the country’s sustainable development. The two nations recently inked bilateral agreements on Development Cooperation, following up on commitments made during government negotiations in December 2022. These agreements encompass a total volume of 191 million euros, equivalent to approximately 2,215 crore Bangladeshi Taka, with 55 million euros allocated for Technical Cooperation (TC) and 136 million euros for Financial Cooperation (FC), as detailed in a press release.
The signing ceremony, which took place in Dhaka, saw Sharifa Khan, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division, and Jan Janowski, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bangladesh, sign the agreements on behalf of their respective governments. The event was attended by high-ranking officials from the Government of Bangladesh, the German Embassy in Dhaka, and key representatives from the main implementing agencies within German Development Cooperation, namely GIZ for technical cooperation and KfW for financial cooperation.
The projects outlined in these agreements focus on critical areas such as Green and Just Energy Transition, Sustainable Urban Development, Sustainable Supply Chains, Biodiversity and Women Empowerment, as well as support for Host and Displaced Communities in Cox’s Bazar.
Under the Technical Cooperation agreement, the projects encompass various initiatives, including energy efficiency promotion, vocational training, climate-smart urban development, and support for climate adaptation targets, among others.
Meanwhile, the Financial Cooperation agreement includes substantial funding for Climate Change Adapted Urban Development Programs, contributing to the sustainable growth of urban areas in Bangladesh.
Germany has a longstanding history of providing both financial and technical assistance to Bangladesh, dating back to 1972, with a cumulative contribution exceeding 3 billion euros. Their cooperation has played a pivotal role in areas like climate change adaptation, infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, good governance, human rights, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and assistance to Rohingya and host communities in Cox’s Bazar district.
These newly signed agreements signify the continuation of successful bilateral cooperation, aimed at advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligning with the Climate Goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. Germany operates its technical and financial cooperation activities in Bangladesh through three institutions: GIZ, KfW Development Bank, and BGR, all of which are overseen by the Embassy of Germany in Bangladesh.
Currently, the German government is financing 23 projects in Bangladesh, totaling 452.5 million euros in loans and 161.054 million euros in grants. Additionally, a separate technical cooperation project, “Strengthening Access to Justice and Legal Reforms (SAJLeR),” was signed between Bangladesh and Germany. This initiative, with a fund of 12.422 million euros, aims to enhance access to justice services for the marginalized, particularly the poor, women, and children, by introducing new reform approaches in the justice sector.
