Minister Alabali Radovan visits GIZ in Eschborn

Chair of the Management Board Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel: ‘Cooperation with the EU is becoming more important, too’

Five people in business attire are standing smiling in a large room. — The GIZ Executive Board and the Chairman of the Works Council welcomed the Minister during her visit to the reception hall at the Eschborn campus. From left to right: Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven (GIZ Managing Director), Jens Neumann (GIZ Works Council Chair), Reem Alabali Radovan (Federal Development Minister), Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel (Chair of the GIZ Management Board), Anna Sophie Herken (GIZ Managing Director)
© GIZ/Gaby Gerster

Eschborn, 19 February 2026. German Federal Minister Reem Alabali Radovan visited the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Eschborn today. Addressing several hundred employees, the head of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) praised those in attendance and their approximately 24,000 colleagues worldwide, and answered questions on topics including BMZ’s recently presented reform plan.

Reem Alabali Radovan: ‘In a world in flux, the need for reliability and trust is growing. And this is precisely where the strength of German development policy lies. In over 60 years, we have garnered trust worldwide. This now gives us influence and scope for action. Credibility is our capital. This capital helped to establish GIZ’s technical cooperation – with its important work and dedicated efforts worldwide.’

Critical global situation requires more strategic work

Chair of the GIZ Management Board Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel accompanied the Minister, together with his fellow Managing Directors Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven and Anna Sophie Herken. Schäfer-Gümbel emphasised: ‘Peace needs development, and international cooperation therefore contributes to security – including for Germany. With its global presence and partnership-based cooperation, GIZ is making a key contribution here.’ He stressed that cooperation with the European Union is becoming more important.

Alabali Radovan spoke in depth with staff working for Syria, Sudan and countries in the Horn of Africa – fragile regions where GIZ has been operating on behalf of BMZ for decades.

About GIZ

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. It supports the German Federal Government in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. GIZ assists people and societies in shaping their own future and improving their living conditions.