The Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an agreement on 05 May at the Economic Relations Division to implement a US$ 3.3 million grant approved by the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund for making environment friendly and energy efficient refrigerators at Walton Hi Tech Industries Ltd.

Under this initiative, UNDP, with assistance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will provide technical support and necessary equipment to Walton Hi-tech Industries Ltd. to produce and promote environment-friendly and energy efficient refrigerators. As a partner of this project Walton is also contributing the same amount of resources to implement it.

High global warming refrigerant, HFC-134a will be replaced by environment friendly and energy efficiency HC-600a(isobutane) refrigerant during production. Environment friendly equipment and training will be provided to the Walton for changing production facilities of HFC-134a based compressor to HC-600a for the same industry.

Monowar Ahmed, Secretary, Economic Relations Division and Kyoko Yokosuka, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh signed the project agreement at NEC conference, ERD on behalf of their respective organisations.

Attending the signing ceremony, Monowar Ahmed, Secretary, Economic Relations Division said, “This is very significant initiative under public-private partnership, supported by the UN to promote environment friendly and energy efficient technology.” He further added, “We can bring additional resources from other development partners for promoting green growth while bringing climate benefits”.

Shamsur Rahman, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said, “This project will create example for other manufacturing companies, as Walton will introduce new environment friendly technology to make refrigerators and air-conditioners. It will also create green jobs through promoting green technology.”

Kyoko Yokosuka, Deputy Resident Representative said “Montreal Protocol is considered as one of the most successful global treaties to address global climate challenge. I think Bangladesh has done tremendously well under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. As a result, the country has phased out some of the chemicals harmful for Ozone layer.” She has also highlighted the partnership between UNDP and the ministry and said, “The partnership between UNDP and MOEFCC now joined by ERD, will intensify further in the implementation of both Montreal Protocol and Paris Climate Agreement”.

S.M. Ashraful Alam, Managing Director of Walton said, “Our operation is fully complaint with the national and international standards set for environmental, energy and occupational health and safety of workers. We are now exporting world class environmentally friendly and energy efficient air-conditioners, televisions and refrigerators to the global market and contributing to the national economy, environment and society”.

The signing ceremony was also attended by the senior officials of the government, relevant agencies and UNDP.

It is expected that emissions of 329,801 tons of CO₂ equivalent GHG will be reduced and 42 million kwh electricity will be saved through this project's implementation.