Germany to Provide €12 Million Grant to Bangladesh for Mangrove, Energy Efficiency Projects

Germany will provide Bangladesh with a total grant of €12 million for two projects aimed at protecting mangroves and marine resources and improving energy efficiency. Two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between Bangladesh and Germany at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) in Dhaka on Thursday.

Dr Roksana Tarannum, additional secretary of the ERD and head of its Europe wing, signed the MoUs on behalf of Bangladesh, while GIZ Country Director Mark Gombart signed on behalf of the German government.

Germany will provide €5 million, or around Tk 71.52 crore, for the ‘Better Protection of Mangroves, Swamp Forests and Marine Areas (CONNECT)’ project. The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will jointly implement the project. It will focus on strengthening the protection, restoration and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources with the participation of coastal communities.

The other project, ‘Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Development (EE4Dev)’, will receive a €7 million grant, or around Tk 100.12 crore, from Germany. The Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) and Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) will jointly implement the project. It aims to improve energy efficiency in industries and residential buildings and reduce electricity consumption from the national grid with the participation of public and private stakeholders.