New German development strategy ties aid to economic partnerships

Germany should more closely link development aid to economic partnerships, as part of a new strategy set out by the Minister of Development Reem Alabali Radovan in Berlin on Tuesday.

“Germany needs partners in the world of world,” said Alabali Radovan. “Especially with regard to cobalt or copper, there is no way to get around the world.”

Without key raw materials, there would be no digitization or energy transition in Germany, warned the minister.

The development strategy plans to develop specific initiatives and projects as well as businesses and associations, and involving the business world in the government’s bilateral consultations at an early stage.

The objective is to support companies by improving funding opportunities. In addition, the personalized tenders’ criteria should increase the chances of German companies that prevail over competitors – for example from China – when contracting.

Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, who is also Minister of Finance, stressed that a quarter of the world’s population should live in Africa by 2050.

The economic model of Germany in recent decades has been increasingly questioned, including thanks to the new American pricing policy, Klingbeil said.

“In order to protect our national and European interests and to succeed economically, Germany and Europe therefore need new strategic partnerships.”

The action plan also focuses on reconstruction in Ukraine, Syria and the Gaza Strip. It will be “a gigantic task that cannot be accomplished without involvement in the private sector”.

In an interview with Deutschlandfunk Radio, Alabali Radovan has held the prospect of providing emergency shelters for the Gaza Strip. “They are already funded, they are ready,” she said.