GIZ, the German development agency, is set to allocate 22.17 million euros to Bangladesh for technical cooperation across five key areas. Memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were recently signed at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) premises in Dhaka, solidifying the collaboration between the government and GIZ.
The five areas of focus include Higher Education and Leadership Development for Sustainable Textiles (HELD), Skills Development for Sustainable Energy Solutions (Skills4SE), Skills for self-monitoring and Compliance with Clean and Fair Production in the textile industry in Bangladesh (SCAIP), Digital Skills to Succeed in Asia (DS2S), and energising Development (EnDev).
Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, the secretary of the ERD, and Andreas Kuck, the country director of GIZ, were the signatories on behalf of their respective parties. Specifically, GIZ will contribute EUR 7,780,000 to the HELD initiative, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) overseeing the project. The aim is to bolster the application-oriented competencies of future specialists and managers in the textile industry for sustainable corporate management.
Furthermore, GIZ will allocate EUR 5,000,000 for the Skills4SE project, focused on enhancing technical and vocational education opportunities in the sustainable energy sector. The SCAIP project, dedicated to improving safety, labor, and environmental standards in the textile and garment industry, will receive EUR 7,000,000 and will be implemented by the Ready-Made Garment Sustainability Council (RSC).
In addition, EUR 382,526 will be provided for the DS2S project, a regional initiative running from 2023 to 2025, aimed at enhancing the capacities of higher education institutions and promoting sustainable implementation of improved study programs.
Lastly, GIZ will contribute EUR 2,000,000 for the EnDev project, which supports the provision of efficient and clean cooking, as well as the productive use of solar energy. This collaboration underscores the commitment to advancing key sectors in Bangladesh through German technical expertise and financial support.