Bilateral negotiations on Development Cooperation between the Bangladesh and Germany were held on 28th and 29th of October. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation the negotiations were held virtually.

The delegation of Bangladesh was headed by Dr. Gauranga Chandra Mohantandc, Additional Secretary and Wing Chief, Europe Wing, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance. On the other hand the delegation of Germany was headed by Dr. Ute Heinbuch, Head of Division “Policy Issues of Cooperation with Asia, South Asia” in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), said a press release on Thursday.

Ms. Hammerschmidt, Commissioner for Asia, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development delivered the welcome address. For the Government of Bangladesh, Ms. Fatima Yasmin, Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance made the opening remarks.

The negotiations took place in a friendly atmosphere of constructive cooperation. Both parties discussed issues of development cooperation including environment, climate change, human rights and good governance.

It should be noted that Germany provides further assistance for forcibly displaced Myanmar National (Rohingya refugees) camps and surrounding host communities with the amount of 19 million Euro. The two delegations had an open and fruitful exchange of views on ongoing projects and programmes in the field of Financial and Technical Cooperation (FC and TC) as well as on future development cooperation.

As a result of the negotiations, commitments for the following areas of interventions of German-Bangladesh mutual Cooperation were made:

1. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency,  2. Sustainable urban development, 3. Good Governance, 4. Displacement and migration, 5. Sustainable supply chains in the textile sector.

In addition, support to integrated management of the Sundarbans mangroves and the marine protected area ‘Swatch of No Ground’ was agreed.