The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The government of Germany has announced that a German financial commitment of 46 million Euro for the year 2008-09 for development of Bangladesh will be advanced to 2007, which will bring about earlier implementation of projects.

A press release of German embassy said here on Tuesday this measure has been taken as a further expression of support of the German Government for the democratic reform efforts of the Caretaker Government. The decision came at the annual Bangladesh-German governmental consultations on bilateral development cooperation that took place on 25 and 26 November.

The Bangladesh Delegation was headed by Aslam Iqbal, Joint Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Government of the people's Republic of Bangladesh.

The German Delegation was headed by Udo Weber, Deputy Head of Division for Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Federal Ministry for economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ).

The delegations reviewed the implementation progress of German funded projects in Bangladesh in power, energy, local governance, rural infrastructure and empowerment of women and discussed future German assistance for the country in various sectors.

The next governmental negotiations between the two countries will take place in Dhaka in 2008.

The consultations concluded with both sides expressing the confidence that development cooperation between the countries will grow further in the days to come.