Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has appealed to the European Union (EU) to give Bangladesh the GSP+ facilities to continue its developments following the LDC graduation in 2026.

She made the call through a statement at the signing ceremony of a number of agreements at the EU Headquarters in Brussels.

The premier said: "I hope that the EU will offer GSP+ to Bangladesh to support our development following our LDC graduation in 2026."

The Premier and the European Commission Chairman Ursula von der Leyen witnessed the signing of a number of agreements, including a 350 million Euro Finance Contract between Bangladesh government and the European Investment Bank (EIB) at the European Commission Headquarters, Brussels.
   
Three loan and grant agreements were signed among Bangladesh, European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission (EC) involving €  407 million to support renewable energy sector in Bangladesh.
  
Bangladesh Prime Minister, European Commission President and EIB President Werner Hoyer witnessed the signing ceremony.
     
The first agreement was signed between Bangladesh and the EIB for an EU-guaranteed framework loan of up to  € 350 million for the operation of “Bangladesh Renewable Energy Facility” to support climate action investments in Bangladesh.
  
The second one was signed between the EIB and the EC of an EU blending grant of € 45 million, composed of €6 million of technical assistance to ensure that all sub-projects comply with international market practices and EIB’s environmental and social standards, and of € 39 million of investment grant to bring in concessional lending tools to support the first renewable energy utility scales projects in Bangladesh.
  
The third agreement was between Bangladesh and the European Commission for the accompanying “Partnership for Green Energy Transition” project of € 12 million, co-financed by Germany, which aims to work on policy, legal framework and investment climate to facilitate an inclusive green energy transition.
  
Secretary Economic Relations Division Sharifa Khan, Deputy Managing Director Markus Berndt of the EIB (GLO) and Director General (DG) of International Partnerships of the EC Koen Doens signed the agreements.  

BDST: 1936 HRS, OCT 25, 2023
MSK