European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Nicola Beer is set to visit Dhaka on Tuesday for a three-day trip to review existing partnerships, discuss various issues and explore expanded investment cooperation with the interim government.
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.
"A number of meetings have been lined up, including a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus," a senior official told UNB on Monday.
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.
Vice-President Beer, during her stay in Dhaka, will also hold meetings with Finance and Planning Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, 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 an interaction over dinner with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (EuroCham).
During its launching, the EU Ambassador to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, expressed the EU's intention to partner intensively with EuroCham to maximise trade and investment, explore more intensive B2B contacts, navigate the challenges of LDC graduation and promote sustainable due diligence in supply chains, opening up the prospect of greater EU FDI and a more diversified Bangladeshi economy.
She is likely to visit Ghandharbpur Water Treatment Plant on Thursday before wrapping up her visit. —UNB
