Bangladesh and Germany signed three cooperation agreements amounting to €14.45 million.
The agreements focus on advancing sustainability in the textile sector, localising national climate adaptation targets, and transitioning to sustainable e-mobility.
A press release from the Economic Relations Division of the Ministry of Finance disclosed this information.
Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, and Andreas Kuck, country director of GiZ in Bangladesh, signed the agreements, marking a new chapter in Bangladesh-Germany bilateral cooperation.
The program for Sustainability in the Textile Sector II (STILE-II) is supported by a total fund of €7,300,000 and is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), Bangladesh.
The objective of this project is to assist both public and private actors in modernizing Bangladesh's textile and ready-made garment (RMG) industries to align with European Union sustainability standards.
The key outputs include coordination efforts led by the Ministry of Commerce to align the textile and RMG sectors with EU standards, implementation of policies and instruments to strengthen these sectors, promotion of gender equality in working and living conditions for workers, and support for the Localization of National Climate Adaptation Targets.
Another significant initiative is the Support for the Localization of National Climate Adaptation Targets (LOCAT) project, which has a total fund allocation of €3,000,000. It is sponsored by the Local Government Division (LGD) of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Bangladesh. The project aims to enhance the institutional capacity of local governments in implementing City Climate Action Plans that are aligned with Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan. The anticipated outputs include the development of methodological tools for gender-responsive urban climate action plans and the establishment of a robust multi-level learning framework for city climate action.
Additionally, the Transition to Sustainable E-Mobility (Trans2SMo) project, sponsored by the Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh, has been funded with €4,150,000.
The project’s goal is to promote sustainable electric mobility through collaboration among policymakers, businesses, and academic institutions. Its key outputs involve strengthening legal and administrative frameworks for electric mobility and initiating capacity-building for public, educational, and private sector professionals.
The signing of these agreements marks a milestone in the ongoing partnership between Bangladesh and Germany. Both nations reaffirm their commitment to advancing sustainable development in critical sectors, including textiles, climate adaptation, and e-mobility. These initiatives aim to significantly contribute to Bangladesh’s goals of sustainable economic growth, environmental stewardship, and gender equality.
