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.
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. He 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. Tröster
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.