Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Germany’s President and senior Government officials

On 5 July, Mawlana Hazar Imam granted Didar to the Jamat of Continental Europe in Berlin Germany. Later in the day, Hazar Imam was joined by Prince Aly Muhammad for an institutional reception with Jamati leaders and staff.

On 6 July, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with Germany’s President and senior Government officials for a series of meetings to strengthen the long-standing relationship between the Ismaili Imamat and the Federal Republic. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomed Hazar Imam and Prince Aly Muhammad to the Villa Borsig, where they discussed ongoing and potential areas of future collaboration.

Following a separate meeting, Hazar Imam and Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul signed a Joint Declaration of Intent between the Ismaili Imamat and the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The document embodies a commitment to work together on some of the most important global challenges of our times. Priority sectors include climate change, health, education, economic development, humanitarian issues, civil society and governance.

Germany has been a trusted partner for over six decades, sharing the Ismaili Imamat’s commitment to addressing critical development challenges, sustaining pluralism, and improving the quality of life in resource-poor environments,” Hazar Imam said. “I’m delighted that we are continuing to deepen this valued friendship.” 

Hazar Imam and Prince Aly Muhammad also met with the Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Reem Alabali-Radovan, at the BMZ offices.

Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and BMZ have sustained extensive ongoing collaborations since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2004.

During the visit, an MOU was also signed between the Egyptian Museum Berlin and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture as a framework to cooperate on projects of common interest. Together, they will rehabilitate the Qubbet al-Hawa or Dome of the Wind in Aswan, Egypt, the resting place of ancient nobles and priests that forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Another MOU was signed between the International Security and Development Center (ISDC) and the University of Central Asia to reflect a continuing partnership that includes the longest running panel study in Central Asia, surveying the same individuals since 2010. Initially funded by the German Volkswagen Foundation and with the economic research institute DIW Berlin as the consortium leader, the most recent round of this study has been supported jointly by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

AKDN and Germany have been partners since the early 1960s, beginning with German private sector engagement in establishing Industrial Promotion Services, the industry and infrastructure arm of AKDN’s Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. The partnership now extends to include 15 countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. 

German institutions have committed nearly $1 billion to more than 250 AKDN projects spanning health, climate resilience, agriculture and food security, economic inclusion, education and cultural rehabilitation. The Aga Khan Foundation expects to establish an office in Berlin later this year.

After the meetings, a delegation of Jamati leaders gathered at the airport to bid Hazar Imam farewell, marking the conclusion to a historic visit.

Additional photos at The.Ismaili