Saturday, 04 June 2011
By A.W. DemisseI wish to say few things on the timely topic of the Ethiopian Diaspora and its possible relationship with its country of origin. I also want to focus only on the broader perspectives of the importance > attached to the Ethiopian Diaspora towards nation building and the commitment shown by the Government to facilitate its participation.
Even after entering the 3rd millennium, our country remains to face daunting challenges. Overcoming these challenges require sound and realistic policies as well as concerted actions aimed at guarantying food security, the provision of basic necessities and infrastructure. Tackling these challenges inevitably imposes on us the need for enhancement of the capacity of both public and private institutions, the guarantees of an efficient civil service, fighting against corruption and miss management, and most important of all the strengthening of institutions is vital for good governance and the rule of law.
At different times in history Ethiopians from all walks of life have had to leave the country for different reasons and establish their lives in different corners of the world. The Ethiopian Diaspora, as we all know, is large in size. Those who are residing in North America constitute a significant part of it. Their residency abroad has afforded them not only the opportunity to acquire most valuable knowledge and experience but has also allowed them to make significant contributions to their respective host societies. Whatever the reason for leaving their country, they remain part and parcel of the national human resources and are in a unique position to make important contributions to the development of our country. Hence, over the years the Ethiopian Diaspora has developed a tremendous good will to make meaningful contributions in the development of its country using the experience and know – how as is most evident in its
recent activities in Ethiopia.
In recognition of this reservoir of goodwill and enormous potential, the government considers the Ethiopian Diaspora as one of the prime development partners and has taken series of measures for making the best use of its immense untapped resource for the nation building. In these regard, forging national consensus and the role that Ethiopians in the Diaspora could play have been highlighted in the Foreign and National Security Policy and Strategy of the country. In recognizing the role of the Ethiopian Diaspora with respect to its country of origin, the government has established the Ethiopian Expatriates affairs General Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it has also assigned diplomats in
all Embassies for building a warm and constructive relationship between the Ethiopian Diaspora and its country of origin.
Apart such institutional measures, the government has also taken encouraging legislative measures. Among these, the promulgation of proclamation No. 270/94, which provides Foreign Nationals of Ethiopian origin with rights and privileges to be exercised in their country of origin, directives which allows Ethiopian Diaspora to open foreign currency account in local commercial banks, tax and custom free privileges for returnees and issuance of urban land for construction of residential buildings are some of the measures to be mentioned.
Over the last couple of years, in part due to these measures, the participations of the Diasporas in the socio economic activities in Ethiopia has been steadily increasing. A number of individuals and organizations in the Ethiopian Diaspora have been making positive contributions in strengthening the capacity of our higher learning institutions, providing health related assistance in the area of delivering medical books and equipments, scholarships, creating linkages and direct transfer of knowledge through specialized training.
It is however clear that compared to the immense potential and capacity of Ethiopians in the Diaspora a lot remains to be done. One of the major impediments preventing wider participation of Ethiopian in the Diaspora was the misunderstanding on the need and purpose of such participation. It should be made clear that, the contributions to poverty eradication efforts in the country could be made irrespective of different at times opposing, perspectives on political or other issues. We should therefore be able to transcend differences and develop consensus in order to pull our resources together and lift our country from abject poverty and backwardness. Hence the time itself provides a timely opportunity to reflect on ways in which Ethiopians at the Diaspora could answer the call for partnership to transfer knowledge, skill and capital to Ethiopia. I am confident that Ethiopian professionals would make prominent contributions
to the country, individually or through their associations in transferring new and tested concept and systems, in promoting trade and investment and cultivating friendly constituency for Ethiopia
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