Dhaka: In a significant step towards promoting sustainable development, three technical cooperation agreements were signed today between Bangladesh and Germany. The agreements, amounting to £14.45 million, focus on advancing sustainability in the textile sector, localizing national climate adaptation targets, and transitioning to sustainable e-mobility.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, 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. This marks a new chapter in Bangladesh-Germany bilateral cooperation, as stated in an ERD press release.
The first agreement, the Programme for Sustainability in the Textile Sector II (STILE-II), is supported by a total project fund of £7,300,000, with the Ministry of Commerce as the sponsoring ministry. It aims to support public and private actors in modernizing Bangladesh's textile and ready-made garment (RMG) industries to align with European Union sustainability standards. The project focuses on coordinating efforts led by the Ministry of Commerce to align the textile and RMG sector with EU standards, implementing policies and instruments to strengthen these sectors, and promoting gender equality in working and living conditions for workers.
The second agreement, Support for the Localization of National Climate Adaptation Targets (LOCAT), is backed by a total project fund of £3,000,000 and sponsored by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD). The main objectives include enhancing the institutional capacity of local governments in implementing City Climate Action Plans aligned with Bangladesh's National Adaptation Plan. Key outputs include developing methodological tools for gender-responsive urban climate action plans and establishing a robust multi-level learning framework for city climate action.
The third agreement, Transition to Sustainable E-Mobility (Trans2SMo), has a total project fund of £4,150,000, with the Power Division as the sponsoring entity. This initiative aims to promote sustainable electric mobility through collaboration among policymakers, businesses, and academic institutions. The project focuses on strengthening legal and administrative frameworks for electric mobility, capacity-building initiatives for public, educational, and private sector professionals, and pilot projects demonstrating the viability of electric vehicles in selected cities.
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.