The French development agency Agence France-Development (AFD) expressed interest in partnering with higher education institutions in Bangladesh to develop skilled manpower.
The cooperation will focus on six key sectors: human resources, smart agriculture, RMG industry, renewable energy, environmental development, and water management.
AFD Managing Director Arnold de Nadayak expressed this interest during a view-sharing meeting with the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday.
The two institutions have agreed to draft a concept paper and sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard soon. A three-member AFD delegation attended the meeting.
On the UGC side, the meeting was attended by members Prof Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan and Prof Mohammad Anwar Hossain, Secretary Md Fakhrul Islam, Director of the Planning and Development Department Mohammad Makshudur Rahman Bhuiyan, and Acting Director of the International Cooperation Department Jasmine Parveen.