By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The Netherlands will strengthen its relationship with Bangladesh in the field of water management and land reclamation.
Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation, Bert Koenders, and the Dutch State Secretary for Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Tineke Huizinga, are currently visiting Bangladesh and Bhutan, according to an announcement by the Dutch Foreign Ministry Monday.
The Netherlands has traditionally been Bangladesh’s main bilateral partner in the area of water management. This cooperation will become even more important against the background of climate change, which affects both our countries, it noted.
The Netherlands remains committed to assist in important areas such as training of water experts and local water management committees, land reclamation and integrated river basin management.
On Monday, talks are scheduled with the foreign minister, the finance minister and prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed. Bangladesh is a key partner country of the Netherlands, which contributed 58 million euro to it in 2008.
The Netherlands’ development relationship with Bhutan is focused on democratisation and the country’s new five-year development plan, now getting under way, noted the Dutch Foreign Ministry statement.
On Tuesday, Koenders will visit Tango Monastery in Bhutan and discuss sustainability with various development organisations. On Wednesday, he will meet with Bhutan’s foreign minister, finance minister and prime minister, and with King Khesar.