European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Nicola Beer began her three-day visit on Tuesday to review the existing partnerships, discuss various issues and explore expanded investment cooperation with the interim government.
She met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday afternoon.
European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller, among others, accompanied her during the meeting with Adviser Hossain.
"A number of meetings have been lined up, including a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus," a senior official told UNB on Monday.
Vice-President Beer, during her stay in Dhaka, will also hold meetings with Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Railways Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Water resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur to discuss wide range of issues, officials at the relevant ministers said while speaking to the UNB correspondent.
She will also have a breakfast meeting with the representatives of the KfW, AfD, ADB, IMF, WB, IFC and JICA.
The Vice President will have interactions over dinner with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (EuroCham).
She is likely to visit Ghandharbpur Water Treatment Plant on Thursday before wrapping up her visit.
The EIB, owned by the 27 EU member states, is the world's largest multilateral financial institution and serves as the European Union's investment bank.
Vice-President Beer oversees policy priorities, critical raw materials, EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and financing operations in South, Southeast and East Asia.
While climate action is a big part of EIB activities, it also focuses on the environment, development, innovation and skills, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), infrastructure and cohesion.
Prof Yunus recently urged the European Union (EU) to extend support to Bangladesh to transform its energy sector.
“We look forward to your cooperation on that…we also talked to other countries to provide us support for transformation of our energy sector,” he said during an interactive session with the diplomats of European countries, stationed in Dhaka and New Delhi last month.
Chief Adviser Prof Yunus said the environment is, of course, a top priority for them. Bangladesh is a victim of environmental degradation that is taking place, Prof Yunus said, adding, “In one area, I get very interested – renewable energy”.
The EIB finances and invests both through equity and debt solutions companies and projects that achieve the policy aims of the European Union through loans, equity and guarantees.
Since its establishment in 1958, the EIB has invested over a trillion euros in projects in Europe and countries worldwide.
Source: UNB
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