(03 October 2011, Capital)--Major federal ministries and public offices will soon open a unit exclusively dedicated to facilitate investment and other requests from the diaspora as the government aims to have returnees bypass the often chaotic bureaucracy which they complain is driving them away from investing in the country.
A full-fledged diaspora policy will also enter the statue books before this European year ends. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Hailemariam Desalegn told members of the Ethiopian diaspora in New York City that the units will soon go operational; a move he said is aimed at responding to complaints his ministry have received on several occasions.
“We have already in place units exclusively dedicated for the diaspora in major service provider institutions. We are expanding it to all the major public office and federal ministries such as Health, Urban Development and Construction, Science and Technology and others.
In town for the United Nations General Assembly, Hailemariam held a discussion with the Ethiopian diaspora in New York City on Monday at the office of the Ethiopian Permanent Mission to the UN.
During the meeting Hailemariam explained that the move of establishing diaspora units is part of the latest drive by the government to have Ethiopians living abroad act as a channel for know-how and technology transfers.
Other than technology and skill transfers, locating markets for exported Ethiopian goods, returning back home to invest and aiding state efforts to “rebrand” Ethiopia is what the government hopes to see the diaspora contribute to, the deputy prime minister said during the meeting.
Even in the upcoming document something will be off limit, Hailemariam indicated. Asked if it would allow dual citizenship Hailemariam replied that allowing dual citizenship will need constitutional amendment; “it is not something that will come in the near future.” Read More from Capital »
A full-fledged diaspora policy will also enter the statue books before this European year ends. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Hailemariam Desalegn told members of the Ethiopian diaspora in New York City that the units will soon go operational; a move he said is aimed at responding to complaints his ministry have received on several occasions.
“The units will exclusively serve you; an inefficient bureaucracy was the major problem we were told of in various diaspora forums,” the deputy prime minister said.
“We have already in place units exclusively dedicated for the diaspora in major service provider institutions. We are expanding it to all the major public office and federal ministries such as Health, Urban Development and Construction, Science and Technology and others.
The organizational structure demanding the unit is already in place, it is now up to the ministries to assign the personnel, I am sure that this will be expedited and soon the units will render service,” Hailemariam told Capital in an interview.
In town for the United Nations General Assembly, Hailemariam held a discussion with the Ethiopian diaspora in New York City on Monday at the office of the Ethiopian Permanent Mission to the UN.
During the meeting Hailemariam explained that the move of establishing diaspora units is part of the latest drive by the government to have Ethiopians living abroad act as a channel for know-how and technology transfers.
A full-fledged diaspora policy detailing what the government expects of them and what incentives and benefits returnees will enjoy would soon enter the statues books.
Other than technology and skill transfers, locating markets for exported Ethiopian goods, returning back home to invest and aiding state efforts to “rebrand” Ethiopia is what the government hopes to see the diaspora contribute to, the deputy prime minister said during the meeting.
He also said the policy document that will be issued will guarantee benefits and incentives for the returnees. “It will clarify things; if we are asked by residents for example why this is for them? Why not for us? We will show them the approved document,” Hailemariam said.
Even in the upcoming document something will be off limit, Hailemariam indicated. Asked if it would allow dual citizenship Hailemariam replied that allowing dual citizenship will need constitutional amendment; “it is not something that will come in the near future.” Read More from Capital »
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