Germany will support the reform initiatives of the Interim Government and has promised 600 million Euro for renewable energy in Bangladesh, German ambassador in Dhaka Achim Tröster said on Wednesday (Sep 18). The German envoy expressed his country's support when he paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus at his office at Tejgaon in Dhaka, local media reported.
Achim Tröster 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. The ambassador said the German support to Bangladesh would be demand-driven. Germany has already proposed a concrete 50 million Euro aid for renewable energy in Bangladesh, he said.
He said Germany would also lend 600 million Euro over a period of eight years for renewable energy. "This is a privileged programme," the envoy said, adding that Bangladesh is one of a handful of countries who have got this project aid.
During the meeting, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus recalled his long friendship with German leaders, saying he frequently attended the anniversaries of the fall of Berlin Wall. He sought more German investment in Bangladesh and its expertise and technology to fight corruption. The chief adviser 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.
Seeking more private German funding for renewable energy and green transition, Prof Yunus said his government would be keen to cut any obstacles to German investment in Bangladesh.
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 Green corridors.
Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary of SDG affairs; Uttam Kumar Karmaker, Additional Secretary of ERD; Kazi Russel Pervez, Director General of the Foreign Ministry; and Jan Janowski, Deputy Chief of Mission of German Embassy; were also present.
