Written by The Banking Post
Germany and Bangladesh will resume bilateral consultations on development cooperation in Dhaka on Tuesday, ending a three-year pause and opening the door to fresh financial and technical support from Berlin.
A high-level German delegation led by BMZ Regional Director Barbara Schaefer is arriving to negotiate a new cooperation framework that will guide assistance for the next two years. The discussions will focus on expanding collaboration in climate resilience, skills development, sustainable growth and governance—areas both countries consider strategic.
An official at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) said the two sides are expected to sign a framework cooperation agreement during the meeting. ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky will lead the Bangladesh delegation, while Germany will be represented by a 35-member team.
The consultations, normally held every two years, were last conducted in 2022. Germany is one of Bangladesh’s largest bilateral development partners, having provided nearly EUR 4 billion since independence.
According to ERD officials, the new framework is likely to cover energy and climate change, infrastructure, technical and vocational education, biodiversity and conservation, sustainable economic cooperation, and anti-corruption and transparency measures.
“Germany consistently prioritises issues such as biodiversity, conservation, climate change, employment and transparency. We expect a significant volume of assistance under the upcoming framework,” an ERD official said.
German cooperation in Bangladesh is delivered mainly through GIZ and KfW, focusing on bilateral initiatives tied to sustainable development, TVET, climate and energy, trade—particularly textiles—and humanitarian support for Rohingya refugees.
Germany remains a key development financier. It committed EUR 181 million in May 2024 and has provided more than EUR 185 million since 2017 to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and surrounding areas.
Officials said once the framework agreement is signed on Tuesday, negotiations will begin to secure funding for specific projects. The size of loans and annual financial commitments will be finalised in the coming months.
