Taye Kebede
Recently the second nationwide Diaspora day was
held at Bahir Dar under the theme “Ethiopian renaissance by its citizens”. And
at regional level, it was held for the 3rd time also at Bahir Dar.
The FDRE government has given attention to Ethiopian born and Ethiopians that
are living abroad outside of their country. And, it has been some years since
foreign affairs ministry formulated a Diaspora affairs policy and started to
implement them.
The FDRE government needed to give attention to
the Diaspora because it is impossible to separate the Diaspora community
(including those that have changed their nationality) from their home country.
It is to benefit the Diaspora from the country they love, while enabling their
country benefit from them.
Previously, citizen that migrated to foreign
lands from developing countries used to be seen as a loss. Especially,
migration of academics was seen as a heavy loss. This is from the thinking that
it will cost the home country its productive citizens. Of course a country will
be harmed if its productive and able citizens leave for foreign lands in large
number. However, recent times has show a shift in seeing citizens that live in
developed and civilized countries as potential resource rather than a loss.
Considering citizens that live in foreign
countries are for the most part sources for trade links, foreign direct
investment and for technological and knowledge transfer, they are given huge
attention. As studies show, direct link is created between citizens living in
foreign countries and foreign trade. The trade link between country with large
number of its citizen living in a foreign country, and the host country is
familiar trait.
They create link between manufacturers and
consumers of their birth country to the counterparts based at the country they
are based in. As they will be users of their country’s products, they create a
foreign destination for their country’s products. In addition to this, they
create market for products of their home country by promoting it in the country
they live in. There is a chance where the Diaspora becomes source of direct
foreign investment. In addition to investing in the country of their origin,
they also encourage investors of the country of their host to invest by
providing them with information. And the government bind countries prepare for
their diaspora community will be source of capital. They are also additional
source of foreign currency when they send in remittance money to their families
and relative back home.
Technological and knowledge transfer is another
contribution Diaspora community brings to their country of origin. Citizens
that live in developed countries are equipped with the knowledge and skill of
their host country. They can transfer these knowledge and skill to their home
country through investment and direct training.
In this regard, China and India are the front
runners. Although the two countries are mentioned because they have large
contingent of Diaspora community abroad, the number of countries that have
benefited from such thing are many.
In order to understand the facts in this regard,
let us look into the experience of China. The history of Chinese going abroad
is long one. Large contingent of Chinese live especially in nearby south east
Asia countries like Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia,
Philippines. Also huge number of Chinese live in north America.
No matter how long this Chinese Diaspora live
away from their country, they never stop thinking about their home country.
They don’t let go of their culture and tradition in countries they live. And the
Chines don’t look those that left their country for abroad as migrants that are
gone for good.
Information shows that the Chinese Diaspora community
for the most part is successful in the countries they live in. And following
the improvement in China’s economic policy at the end of 70s, their Diaspora
community has played huge role in helping grow China’s economy in short span of
time. Especially since the beginning of the 90s, the direct investments they
make to their country have grown tremendously. 70% out of the 40 billion US
dollar that used to enter into China as direct foreign investment during these
years was from Chinese born living abroad.
The type of investment the Chinese Diaspora made
in their country accounts for the cheap labor found at their country and
focused at manufacturing export goods. Information shows that the type of goods
the investment of the first wave of Chinese Diaspora focused on goods that are
in demand in foreign markets like Shoe, electronics, textile, Christmas
acquisitions, toys etc… Then, the investment of the Chinese Diaspora upgraded
to big technological industry, real estate etc …From 1990-97, the FDI from
Chines Diaspora was growing by 44% annually.
This flood of FDI from Chinese diaspora into
China has played huge role in growing the country’s economy at fast rate. This
was one basic reason that made the Chinese Diaspora to go back to their
countries in drove while holding the wealth, knowledge and companies they have
accumulated while living abroad. The Chinese government has put a provision
that would put special security to the Diaspora returnees.
Of course the aim of this article is not talk
about the Chines Diaspora community, but to look into way how Ethiopia’s
diaspora can help their country. As mentioned at the introductory part of the
article, the FDRE government has formulated a policy that would allow for the
Diaspora community to help their home country, and benefit from their country,
and it is implementing it. This is the reason why the need to celebrate
Diaspora day in various regions, at regional and national level.
As a result, Diaspora day was celebrated for the
second time this year at Bahir Dar city under the theme, “Ethiopian renaissance
by its citizens”. Since the FDRE Diaspora policy was enacted and the Diaspora
community started to become aware of the things in their country by celebrating
Diaspora day, the contribution they pour in the country’s economy and
development is increasing. And this can be seen from the foreign remittance
money they send in to their families legally, foreign direct investment and
technological and knowledge transfer.
As information show, the remittance money
Ethiopians and Ethiopian born living abroad sent into their home country has
reached 4 billion dollar. This is huge amount of money. It is more than the
country gets from the tourism sector and export earnings. The remittance money
used to be 1.78 billion dollar in 2011, 1.85 billion dollar in 2012, 1.95
billion birr 2013, 3.4 billion birr in 2014, 3.8 billion birr in 2015. This
shows how much the celebration of the Diaspora day has stimulated the Diaspora
community.
When looking at the Diaspora investment, 6
thousand Diasporas have gotten investment by getting consulted through ministry
of foreign affairs. And out of these, more than 3 thousand have invested. And
if we look at the investment sectors the Ethiopia Diaspora members are involved
in, 1458 are involved in manufacturing industry, 1100 in agriculture, 400 in
service, and 4 in mining sector. The
Diaspora community is also contributing their part in knowledge transfer. In
addition to the knowledge and technology they directly bring together with
investment, the Diaspora have been given health service and treatment by
bringing in modern medical equipment in cooperation with other foreigners. Not
only this; they have given training in cooperation with colleges and
universities. And this will continue strongly for the future.
Things have been facilitated for the Diaspora to
open up foreign currency saving account in local banks in order for them to
support their country with foreign currency. So far, the number of members that
have become beneficiaries of this account system has reached 5 thousand. And
the money they have saved up is close to 37 million dollar. And their
contribution in the procurement of the grand Renaissance Dam bond has also
increased. In the ten months of 2016 alone, members of the Ethiopian diaspora
have bought 5 million dollar worth of the bond.
From the above illustration, we can see the
Diaspora community are helping themselves and their country in the process by
getting involved in the economy. It is projected that the number of population
of the Diaspora community is close to 3 million. These Diasporas have emotional
ties with their home country. And this ties should transfer from loving the
country and people to benefiting each other.
No comments:
Post a Comment