DHAKA: The bi-annual Government Consultations between Bangladesh and Germany were held in Dhaka on May 7 and 8, 2014.

The Consultations have been chaired by Additional Secretary Abul Mansur Md. Faizullah Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance. The German delegation was headed by Mr. Wolfgang Hruschka, Acting Head of South Asia; India Division, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The delegations had an open and fruitful exchange of views on ongoing projects and programmes in the field of financial and technical co-operation as well as on future development co-operation.

In his opening speech Hruschka expressed his pride that German Development cooperation has assisted Bangladesh during the last decades and was able to contribute to the successes achieved so far.

Referring to Germany’s Development Strategy for Bangladesh and its close linkage to Bangladesh’s Sixth Five Year Plan, Mr. Abul Mansur Md. Faizullah highlighted the needs of the country.

He expressed his hope that the mechanisms and strategies of the German Development Cooperation will create opportunities and enable private and public entities to come closer for the greater benefit of both countries.

At the opening session of the consultations, Mr. Philippe Jacques, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Dhaka informed about the European Union’s Joint Programming approach as a means for enhancing the effectiveness and coherence of EU and Member States’ cooperation with Bangladesh.

So far Germany has committed around 2.6 Billion Euros for its bilateral co-operation.

It was agreed to hold the next bilateral Government Negotiations between Bangladesh and Germany in October/November 2014 in Dhaka.

BDST: 1048 HRS, MAY 12, 2014