Dhaka //

Germany has pledged 600 million euros for renewable energy in Bangladesh. At the same time, the country said it would support the reform initiatives of the interim government.

German Ambassador Achim Troster expressed his country’s support in a courtesy interview with Professor Muhammad Yunus at the Chief Adviser’s office in Tejgaon on Wednesday (September 18).

The ambassador said that Germany has a long-standing relationship with Bangladesh. In recent years it has become one of the country’s largest development partners with over a billion euros. Germany has already offered 50 million euros in renewable energy support to Bangladesh.

The ambassador said that Germany will provide a loan of 600 million euros over eight years for renewable energy. This is a privileged program. Bangladesh is one of the handful of countries that have received this project support.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus recalled his long friendship with German leaders, saying he often attended the anniversaries of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Professor Yunus wants more German investment in Bangladesh and skills and technology to fight corruption.

He said that the nation is united behind the students and youth who are ushering in a new era for the country. Now we have to pay attention to their desires. We need to help them become entrepreneurs.

He also said that the interim government is keen to remove any obstacles to German investment in Bangladesh. He wanted more private German funding for the renewable energy transition.

Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfe Siddiqui briefed the German Ambassador about the reforms of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority. He said, German and Bangladeshi firms can create green corridor together.

SDG Affairs Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed, ERD Additional Secretary Uttam Kumar Karmkar, Foreign Ministry Director General Kazi Russell Parvez and German Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Jan Janowski were present.