Germany to help Bangladesh reach its goal to be a middle-income country

Germany will help Bangladesh to reach its goal to be a middle-income country by 2021, new German Ambassador Thomas Prinz has said.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 9 April 2015, 05:27 PM
Updated : 9 April 2015, 05:36 PM

He presented his credentials to President Md abdul Hamid on Wednesday.
 
In a statement on Thursday, he said during his meeting with the president, he emphasised the long-lasting ties between Bangladesh and Germany.
 
“Germany was among the first countries to recognize Bangladesh’s independence after 1971. Since then our two countries have had close political and economic relations.
 
“I am looking forward to further strengthen our mutual cooperation during my tenure in Bangladesh”, the new ambassador said.
 
Prior to his Bangladesh posting, he headed a department in the economic section in Headquarters of the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin.
 
Earlier, he served in Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia and Afghanistan.
 
“This country (Bangladesh) has tremendous potentials – the dynamic business community, the ambitious and creative youths and the entrepreneurial spirit of its people,” he said.
 
The two-way trade was more than 4.5 billion euros last year.
 
“With success comes responsibility. Worker’s rights, fair wages and safe working environments are a precondition for a sustainable business model and for the important step ahead: Bangladesh becoming a middle-income country.
 
“Germany will continue to assist Bangladesh to reach this aim,” he said.
 
Since 1972 Germany has contributed more than 2 billion euros to Bangladesh in the area of development cooperation.

In 2014 Germany pledged 211 million euros - the highest commitment ever since.
“The funds will be made available in the three priority areas: ‘Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency’, ‘Good Governance, Rule of Law, Human Rights’ and ‘Adaptation to Climate Change in Urban Areas’, Prinz said.