Bangladesh and Germany have signed three bilateral agreements for implementing projects in different sectors, including energy and climate.
The agreements, worth 337.20 million euro, were signed today (Sunday) on Technical Cooperation-2016, Financial Cooperation-2016 and Financial Cooperation 2016 (Saidabad-III) at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area.
ERD Secretary Kazi Shofiqul Azam and German Ambassador to Dhaka Dr Thomas Prinz signed the agreements on behalf of the two governments, reports BSS.
Under the Technical Cooperation-2016, a total amount of 31 million euro will be provided as contribution to the following projects. These are - Renewable energy and energy efficiency programme; Energy efficiency and integration of solar energy into the grid; Prison and justice reform for promoting human rights and preventing corruption; Promotion of social and environmental standards in industry, Phase III; Adaptation of climate change into national and local development Planning, Phase II; Improved coordination of international climate finance; National adaptation plan and nationally determined contribution support programme; and study and expert fund.
Under the Financial Cooperation-2016, an amount of 216.20 million Euro will be provided as loan and contribution to IDCOL (2 projects for renewable energy); Modernisation of energy distribution-smart grid, Phase 1; Climate change-Adapted urban development programme, phase II; and Financial contribution to attendant measures.
Besides, an amount of 90 million euro will be provided as loan to the climate change adapted drinking, water resources management Dhaka (Saidabad Water Treatment Plant Project, Phase III).
The implementing Agencies of the projects are - Power Division, Local Government Division, WASA and the Ministry of Forests and Environment.
High officials from the German Embassy in Dhaka, KfW, GIZ and the government of Bangladesh were present at the signing ceremony.
Germany has a long standing history in supporting Bangladesh's economic infrastructure, health sector, poverty alleviation, good governance and human rights, power transmission and renewable energy, climate change adaptation, study and other issues.