AFD celebrates 10 years of development partnership with Bangladesh

Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group celebrated 10 years of development partnership with Bangladesh, taking its position as the fifth top partner, contributing €1.8 billion towards the nation's progress and resilience.

On this occasion, French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy, at a reception in a Dhaka city hotel on Thursday, said AFD has become most impressive partner of Bangladesh among other countries as its activities are swiftest in the country among worldwide.

The French development bank is one of the first banks focused on climate change issues in Bangladesh.

A new adaptation-based investment project will be endorsed soon by Bangladesh leaders, focusing on loss and damage, she said, adding that her government tries to reverse the balance in climate financing on adaptation in Bangladesh, which is very much a mitigation focus.

The French ambassador recalled the French president's visit to Bangladesh and said it was an impressive event that elevated the relationship to a new height.

AFD Group, consisting of AFD Proparco and Expertise France, commemorated a decade of transformative collaboration in 2012, committing over €1.8 billion towards advancing various sectors critical to Bangladesh's growth and contributing to the nation's progress and resilience.

AFD Country Director Benoit Chassatte said that though the AFD is very new among the development partners, its achievements during the last 10 years have been significant.

Particularly, he focused on the growth in funding scenarios after 2020 and said it means the future is bright.

Among others, AFD South Asia Regional Director Yazid Ben said, and Additional Secretary (Europe) of Economic Relations Division Uttam Kumar Karmakar spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, a workshop on climate fresk, a collaborative and science-based workshop on the work of the IPCC, was held, where representatives from different public and private organisations participated.

[email protected]