[🇧🇩] Germany---A bosom Friend of Bangladesh

[Saif]

Germany to provide €1b to support renewable energy in Bangladesh
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 17 Sep 2024, 18: 18

German ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Tröster met the environment, forest, and climate change adviser at her secretariat office on 17 September 2024. PID

Germany will provide Bangladesh with €1 billion over the next ten years, including €15 million this year, focusing on renewable energy generation, says environment, forest and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

She made the disclosure after a meeting with German ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Tröster at her secretariat office on Tuesday, according to a PID handout.

In the meeting, both countries have agreed to promote knowledge exchange and cooperation with non-state actors like the private sector, research institutes, academia, and civil society.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the collaboration will also involve small ethnic minorities, women, and youth, fostering a multi-stakeholder approach.

She thanked the ambassador for his country’s continued support in environmental and climate matters, and underscored the need for increased international cooperation to address global climate challenges and the importance of sustainable forest management.

Ambassador Tröster expressed Germany’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh in its fight against climate change and appreciated the government’s efforts in protecting the environment. He also highlighted Germany’s expertise in renewable energy and offered technical assistance to support Bangladesh’s green energy initiatives.

During the meeting, both sides discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation on environmental protection, river cleaning projects and climate change mitigation. The discussions also included potential collaboration on sustainable development projects, green technology adoption, for tackling environmental and climate-related challenges.

The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to explore further avenues for collaboration, particularly in technology transfer and environmental sustainability projects.​

 

[Saif]

German ambassador advocates for political reconciliation in Bangladesh

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Tröster has advocated for reconciliation between political parties and within parties for a peaceful transition to democracy

www.thedailystar.net

German ambassador advocates for political reconciliation in Bangladesh

Photo: Collected

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Tröster has advocated for reconciliation between political parties and within parties for a peaceful transition to democracy.

"This is an idea that has worked well in the recent past in countries like South Africa or Rwanda, but equally in Europe. I don't see any reason why this should not be the case in Bangladesh and contribute to a much better communal life," he said at an event marking the German Unity Day at the Franco-German Embassy in the capital last evening.

The comment comes as the interim government has undertaken various reforms following the fall of Awami League regime on August 5 through a mass uprising. Political rivalries and lack of democratic practices and accountability created a wide arrays of problems over the years.

The German ambassador said large parts of the society in Bangladesh were willing to assume enormous personal sacrifices, up to the ultimate, for freedom, participatory democracy and more prosperity for all, not a few.

Achim Tröster said for their aspirations and dreams to come true, many citizens of Bangladesh feel that it needs a different approach in some areas.

He said he is convinced by the idea that a peaceful future of this country requires reconciliation.

He said Germany and France, who were enemies for centuries, decided that reconciliation is the way forward towards a peaceful existence of their peoples and a necessary precondition for their aspirations for a free, peaceful and prosperous Europe.

"I think France and Germany, the whole European Union, are a testimony of the success of that way."

Achim Tröster said what it needs is to change one's mind and to cast away the shadows of a bloody and revengeful past.

"In order to achieve reconciliation, we need to hear the word sorry and an apology for the crimes and mistakes that have been committed. I may be wrong, but so far, I unfortunately have not heard it here."

Furthermore, reconciliation is not possible without investigating and acknowledging the truth, the German Ambassador said.

He said the interim government is matching the expectations of many people in Bangladesh and outside of Bangladesh by making the proper investigation into the events of July and August 2024, with the support of the Office of the High Representative for Human Rights in Geneva, a priority. The German Government has contributed 50,000 Euro to this operation of the OHCHR.

He said Germany remains the second largest importer of garment from Bangladesh, and there is a lot of scope for further expanding our businesses also to other promising sectors.

The German government very much appreciates the efforts by the interim government to swiftly restore security and stability in the country and acknowledges the reforms that have been started for example in the banking sector.

The German businesspeople generally display a continued interest in Bangladesh and would very much applaud the success of Bangladesh's economic reform agenda that would allow them to intensify and broaden their business with Bangladesh.

The German government assumes that with the establishment of the interim government, the common basis for cooperation — bilaterally as well as in the framework of its cooperation with the European Union — has broadened.

"We now share more democratic values and convictions than has been the case before, and we are hopeful to jointly make the best of it, to grasp this chance that has suddenly come about, for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh, for freedom, participatory democracy and more prosperity for all and not only a few."

At the event, Commerce Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed sought support from all foreign countries with the interim government's institutional reform initiatives and also with finance on its journey towards new Bangladesh.​

 

[Saif]

Germany to provide €180m for cooperation projects

Germany will provide around €180.81 million (approximately Tk 2,265 crore) for bilateral development cooperation projects in Bangladesh that focus on a number of mutually agreed core areas..Of the total support, €45.8 million will be in the form of technical cooperation and the rest in the

www.thedailystar.net

Germany to provide €180m for cooperation projects

Germany will provide around €180.81 million (approximately Tk 2,265 crore) for bilateral development cooperation projects in Bangladesh that focus on a number of mutually agreed core areas.

Of the total support, €45.8 million will be in the form of technical cooperation and the rest in the form of financial cooperation.

The projects involve renewable energy and energy efficiency (€50.5 million), socially and environmentally sound supply chains, trade, and infrastructure (€12 million), sustainable urban development (€95.5 million) and protection of biodiversity (€6 million).

The projects also cover technical and vocational education and training (€5 million) and combating domestic violence against women and children (€7 million).

Two agreements were signed in this regard between the two countries at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) yesterday.

Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, secretary to the ERD, and Achim Tröster, German ambassador to Bangladesh, signed the agreements, according to a press release of the ERD.

After signing the agreements, the ERD secretary mentioned that one of the hallmarks of the bilateral cooperation was a commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity.

Germany has been a crucial partner in supporting Bangladesh's efforts to strengthen its infrastructure, expand its industrial base, and enhance its competitiveness in the global market, he said.

He also said through initiatives such as technical assistance, capacity building, and investment promotion, Germany has played a pivotal role in empowering Bangladesh to realise its economic potential and improve the livelihoods of its people.

Siddiky also sought technical support from Germany for the modernisation of Bangladesh's jute industry.

This could include support for research and development in jute processing technology, capacity building for farmers and manufacturers, and facilitating access to international markets through trade partnerships, he said.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

All news are related to Germany Helping BD. 1 BN Euro in 10 years. 15 Mn this year. I cannot stop laughing.

 

[Bilal9]

All news are related to Germany Helping BD. 1 BN Euro in 10 years. 15 Mn this year. I cannot stop laughing.

Why is this a problem? India is the largest remittance receiver in the world ($125 Billion last year), and gets remittances from Islamic countries while bad-mouthing Islam as a religion. Without remittances - Indian economy would collapse. India cannot create enough jobs at home to employ their own people.

Compared to that Indian remittance situation, 15 paltry million a year is peanuts. Do you see the dichotomy?

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Why is this a problem? India is the largest remittance receiver in the world ($125 Billion last year), and gets remittances from Islamic countries while bad-mouthing Islam as a religion. Without remittances - Indian economy would collapse. India cannot create enough jobs at home to employ their own people.

View attachment 11152

Compared to that Indian remittance situation, 15 paltry million a year is peanuts. Do you see the dichotomy?

I think you do not understand the difference between foreign aid and Remittance. That Remittance is legitimately earned buy Indians by their hard work wherever they are. It is their right to spend wherever they are.

 

[Saif]

All news are related to Germany Helping BD. 1 BN Euro in 10 years. 15 Mn this year. I cannot stop laughing.

It's not about the amount of money. It's about the technical support from Germany which should be counted here.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

It's not about the amount of money. It's about the technical support from Germany which should be counted here.

That is really great, but the focal point of the article is 1 bn aid.

 

[Saif]

That is really great, but the focal point of the article is 1 bn aid.

Without money how can technical assistance be given?

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh-German Climate and Development Partnership launched

In a historic step toward a more sustainable future, Bangladesh and Germany have officially launched the Bangladesh-German Climate and Development Partnership (CDP)

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Bangladesh-German Climate and Development Partnership launched

In a historic step toward a more sustainable future, Bangladesh and Germany have officially launched the Bangladesh-German Climate and Development Partnership (CDP).

German Ambassador Achim Troester and Economic Relations Division Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky signed the Joint Declaration of Intent to fight climate change, promote clean energy, and drive global climate action, said the German embassy in Dhaka in a statement yesterday.

This new partnership builds on more than five decades of cooperation between the two nations and focuses on key areas including climate adaptation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and nature-based solutions.

"Together, Bangladesh and Germany are taking significant steps to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing climate," it said.

The Joint Declaration of Intent is a non-legally binding agreement, which became effective immediately upon signing.

Through this partnership, Bangladesh and Germany reaffirm their commitment to addressing climate change and building a sustainable, resilient future for all, the statement said.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

It seems that all the countries are Bosom friends of BD except India now a days.