Somali Region Holding Consultative Forum to Enhance Diaspora Engagement

Addis Ababa February 26/2021 (ENA) A consultative forum aimed at fostering the commitment and engagement of Ethiopian Somali Diaspora in regional and national development opened in the regional capital, Jigjiga, today.

Opening the two-day forum, Jigjiga University Vice President Elias Abdulahi said views of countries and institutions towards migration and the diaspora have been largely negative.

However, he noted that disruptive views have been changed whereby migrant origin and destination countries recognize the positive contributions of the diaspora to development.

The diaspora are nowadays considered as development partners, the vice president said, adding that "the remittance sent by diasporas to the low and middle income countries has, for instance, increased by three-fold for the last three decades, reaching 550 billion USD in 2019."

According to Elias, this amount is believed to be not only far larger but also more effective than official development assistance and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

"Remittance and other transfers from Somali Diaspora account for more than 30 percent of the Somali Regional State GDP and significantly contribute to Ethiopia's GDP," the vice president revealed.

Ethiopian Diaspora Agency Director-General, Selamwait Dawit said on her part that transfer of knowledge, skill and technology are key areas where the diaspora can make a difference.

With over three million diaspora across the world, Ethiopia has the second largest African immigrants after Nigeria in the United States, the director-general added.

Furthermore, Selamawit stated that contribution of the diaspora to their country of origin has been improving from time to time through a concerted effort exerted by the pertinent bodies.

"In the past six months alone, over 1.7 billion USD has been remitted and over 4.3 million USD deposited in 3,186 newly created diaspora accounts. Over 89 million Birr has been collected to support the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in bond purchases and donations. In addition, 847 diaspora investment licenses have been issued."

She affirmed that the agency is always willing and ready to work to realize better diaspora mobilization and engagement.