Germany will support Bangladesh’s reform initiatives and has pledged to provide 600 million €s for renewable energy, German Ambassador Achim Tröster said on Wednesday.
The German ambassador expressed his country's willingness when he was paying a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his office in Tejgaon area of Dhaka.
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 €1 billion.
Tröster said the German support to Bangladesh would be demand-driven as it has already proposed a concrete €50 million aid for renewable energy in Bangladesh.
The ambassador said Germany would also lend €600 million over eight years for renewable energy.
“This is a privileged programme," he said, adding Bangladesh is one of a handful of countries who have received 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 the Berlin Wall.
Prof Yunus sought more German investment in Bangladesh and its expertise and advanced technology to fight against 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 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.
He said German and Bangladesh firms can create a Green corridor.
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.
BDST: 2127 HRS, SEP 18, 2024
MSK
