The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group has celebrated 10 years of development Partnership with Bangladesh, taking its position as the fifth top partner contributing €1.8 billion towards the nation's progress and resilience.
On this occasion, French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy at a reception in a city hotel on Thursday said AFD has become “most impressive partner” of Bangladesh among other countries as its activities are swiftest in the country worldwide.
The French development agency is one of the first banks focused on climate change issues in Bangladesh.
A new adaptation-based investment project will be endorsed soon by Bangladesh leaders focusing on loss and damage, the ambassador said, adding that her government tries to reverse the balance in climate financing on adaptation in Bangladesh which is very much mitigation-focused.
The French ambassador recalled the French president's visit to Bangladesh and said it was an impressive event and had given a new height to the relationship
AFD Group consisting of AFD, Proparco, and Expertise France, commemorates a decade of transformative collaboration in 2012 committing over €1.8 billion towards advancing various sectors critical to Bangladesh's growth, contributing to the nation's progress and resilience.
AFD Country Director Benoit Chassatte said though the AFD is very new among the development partners, its achievement during the last 10 years is significant.
Particularly he focused on the growth in funding scenario after 2020 and said it means the future is bright.
Among others, AFD South Asia Regional Director Yazid Ben and Additional Secretary (Europe) of Economic Relations Division Uttam Kumar Karmakar spoke on the occasion.
Earlier a workshop on climate risk, a collaborative and science-based workshop on the work of IPCC was held where representatives from different public and private organisations participated
