In nation building Diaspora engagement is a task towards which countries of the world are mobilizing their utmost potential and resource pursuant of a better economic development. Utilizing Diaspora expertise, skill, knowledge and financial potentials to create sustainable economic development is one of the focus areas. Ethiopia is one of the countries in the globe that is aspiring to fully utilize its skill, expertise and capitals of its Diaspora communities.
Using its national Diaspora policy, the country has already started to encourage Ethiopians living abroad to invest their money and knowledge on useful ventures in their mother country. This has attracted several Diaspora and foreign citizens of Ethiopian origin across the world. The enthusiasm and the interest of Diaspora and foreign citizens of Ethiopian origin to invest in their mother country were witnessed when the first Diaspora Day was marked.
The second Diaspora Day, which was successfully concluded in Bahir Dar town, had attracted various Ethiopian Diaspora communities from all over the world.
Celebrants of the event have showed national sentiment to invest their knowledge and capital on their motherland. They have reached at the decision based on the first hand information they got. The overall economic progress they have observed has also influenced their decision.
The experience of several countries has showed that Diaspora community has a key economic role for the national development activities. According to the 2016 data of the World Bank, about 251 million people of the world live distanced from their homeland due to various reasons. The report shows that in 2015 the Diaspora had sent, in remittance, about 601 billion USD to their respective countries. Some 441 billion USD of the total amount was dispatched to developing countries. Data show that Indians and Chinese had sent 72.20 billion and 63.90 billion USD respectively to their nations in 2015. And Nigeria takes the lead from Africa. Nigeria had garnered 20.89 billion USD from the Diaspora over the stated time.
In the same vein, active involvement of the Diaspora has a significant role for the growing economy of Ethiopia. Their active engagement will make a difference to Ethiopia. Their progressive actions will create job opportunities and fill skill gaps. Using their experiences gained in developed nation, the Diaspora could bring a new idea that will further promote the already started economic change.
The role of remittance for national development and poverty reduction is another important thing to remember. Diaspora and foreign citizens of Ethiopian origin currently living outside Ethiopia are contributing a lot to the development of the nation through remittance.
Here, it must be noted that beyond remittances, the Diaspora can also promote trade and foreign direct investment, create businesses and spur entrepreneurship and transfer new knowledge and skills.
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