Taking office Reem Alabali-Radovan becomes new Development Minister
Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan said: “In today’s challenging geopolitical context, Germany is more reliant than ever on diverse global allies. It is therefore a good thing for Germany that there will continue to be a ministry that focuses on fostering global partnerships and maintaining relationships over the long term. Cooperation, solidarity and reliability can no longer be taken for granted in our current times.
The new federal government’s commitment to a strong and independent development policy sends an important signal worldwide: Germany will remain a reliable, open-minded partner. This reliability is important for our partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America, for the United Nations and other international organisations, for civil society, churches and foundations and for local municipalities. And it will benefit us, too – because Germany’s prosperity and security rely on stable international relationships. We cannot tackle the major challenges of our time alone. But together, we can.
Combating poverty, hunger and inequality will always be core aims of a development policy guided by fairness and compassion. Justice and security will also be two core pillars of my development policy. As Development Minister, I will advocate for just economic cooperation that benefits both sides – Germany and its partners. This partnership-based win-win effect is something we want to pursue more strongly in future, in areas from resource extraction to green hydrogen.
Development policy will remain an indispensable part of Germany’s holistic security and migration policy. Development cooperation plays a major role in tackling the root causes of displacement – for example by stabilising countries affected by conflict and crises, and by supporting countries that offer refuge to internally displaced persons or those who have fled from nearby countries. Nothing tackles displacement and irregular migration as effectively as local opportunities and prospects.
At the same time, as a modern immigration country we need workers, including skilled workers, from abroad. I want to use development cooperation funds to achieve solutions that benefit everyone: migrants themselves, their home country and Germany alike. Because to maintain our prosperity, we need motivated, well-trained workers. I also know that for regular migration to succeed, it is important that opportunities for training and integration are available before migration takes place.”
Reem Alabali-Radovan was born on 1 May 1990 in Moscow, Russia. She has a degree in political science and acted as Minister of State to the Federal Chancellor and Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration from 2021 to 2025. She was also appointed Federal Government Commissioner for Anti-Racism in 2022. Alabali-Radovan served as integration officer of the Land government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania from 2020 to 2021. She previously headed the integration office of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (2018–2020), before which she worked at the State Office for Internal Administration of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (2015–2018), and at the German Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV) and the German Orient-Institute (2012–2014).