USAID Bangladesh and Alliance Convene Stakeholders for Improved Cookstove Market Facilitation Platform
On 16 September 2014, representatives from the US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Catalyzing Clean Energy in Bangladesh (CCEB) program organized the Second Annual Improved Cookstoves Market Facilitation Platform in cooperation with Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (Alliance) and the Government of Bangladesh. More than 200 attendees representing private enterprises, NGOs, government counterparts, and donor organizations participated in panel discussions regarding barriers to market development and strategies to overcome those barriers.
Honorable Advisor to the Prime Minister, Dr. Tawfiq-E-Elahi , stated that the Government of Bangladesh is “committed to ensuring [a] better cooking experience for the ordinary people as more people now need access to improved cookstoves and cleaner fuels.” He emphasized the need for producing quick outputs as people want to see immediate results. USAID Mission Director Janina Jaruzelski emphasized the US Government’s commitment to working with the Government of Bangladesh and other partners to promote the use of more fuel-efficient cookstoves, which create additional opportunities for economic growth and helps protect the country’s natural resources. Alliance Regional Director, Arijit Basu, expressed his willingness and commitment to work with partner countries to promote adoption of clean cooking solutions. Additional Secretary of the Power Division, Dr. Ahmed Kaikaus also attended the event as a special guest.
Panelists and moderators described several new initiatives. For example, prominent social enterprise and CCEB strategic partner JITA announced the beginning of a pilot test with Muspana, a local improved cookstove manufacturer. JITA will sell at least 100 stoves at market prices and seek consumer feedback. Award winning South African stove manufacturer 5 Star Stoves announced that they have been included in the Private Financial Advisory Network for Asia (PFAN Asia) pipeline and they intend to invest this capital in Bangladesh. Mr. Siddique Zobair, Joint Secretary, Power Division emphasized on the implementation of the Country Action Plan. Sudha Setty, Alliance Market Manager for India, highlighted the different barriers for the growth of the improve cookstoves market in Bangladesh. Samir Thapa, Assistant Director of Nepal’s Alternative Energy Promotion Centre at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment spoke about how the government is implementing clean cookstoves project in his country.