The Government of The Gambia Tuesday held a consultative meeting with some Gambians in the Diaspora at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
With the theme 'Harnessing Diaspora Engagement in Support of Enhanced Socio-economic Development in The Gambia', the forum brought together representatives of Gambians in the Diaspora, including Gambian ambassadors abroad, civil society organizations, NGO's, members of the private sector, among others.
In a statement read by the Vice President and Minister of Women's Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh stated that his government has always created the enabling environment for Gambians both inside and outside the country. He said it is his belief that Gambians in the diaspora also have a significant role to play in our collective desire to overcome the various challenges that face our development process. He made particular reference to their substantial role in development strategies such as poverty eradication, job creation and economic growth, in our bid to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and Vision 2020.
"I am confident that the overall development potentials of our nationals in the diaspora reach significant levels, especially in such areas as business creation, trade links, investments remittances, knowledge, technology and skills transfer and exchange of experiences", he emphasised.
|
"I am confident that the overall development potentials of our nationals in the diaspora reach significant levels, especially in such areas as business creation, trade links, investments remittances, knowledge, technology and skills transfer and exchange of experiences", he emphasised. He went on to note that there is the need for a collective strategy in partnership with the Gambians abroad to translate these potentials into more concrete and sustainable programmes and projects for the benefit of our society.
The President used the opportunity to urge the participants to take full advantage of the unique gathering to discuss and agree on strategies that will enable the formulation and execution of the necessary diaspora-related policy.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, the Secretary to Cabinet, Honourable Saikou Gassama asserted that the positive role played by the Diaspora in development in the developing countries is an open secret. He said the World Bank has come to recognize the remittances by the diaspora to developing countries to outweigh global aid flows, which gives it a great potential within the context of the political economy of international finance. He revealed that the nexus between diaspora and development has become a major focus of emerging research and policy discussions, as well as a common topic of public debate in recent times.
The Secretary General further noted that some developing countries have benefitted immensely from the vibrant contribution of the diaspora to national development agenda, citing example of South Korea, where contributions from its organized labour exports helped in generating thriving growth in trade, investment transfer of knowledge and skills in that country. He said this phenomenon helped in transforming South Korea from labour-exporting country to labour-importing one.
The SG further indicated that the meeting would provide an avenue for government to identify and explore the potential and talents of Gambians living outside The Gambia, aimed at engendering support for the achievement of targets stipulated in the Vision 2020 development blue print.
The newly elected Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, who doubled as the representative of Gambians in the Diaspora, Fatou Bom Bensouda, outlined some of the areas in which Gambians could make a meaningful contribution towards national development. This, she highlighted include Gambians working in international development organisations providing meaningful input during the shaping of national and sectoral development policies and programmes; Gambian professors and lecturers in the diaspora playing similar roles that could be directly useful to our budding university by contributing to the development of curricular and study programmes; Gambians abroad engaged in various business ventures, who if provided with interesting business proposals, investment incentives and security of investment guarantees will be willing to direct their resources and know-how towards our motherland.
The ICC Chief Prosecutor further mentioned that Gambians living abroad can contribute their quota by convincing their neighbours to come to The Gambia for holidays, collect and donate medical items amongst other things.
Madam Bom Bensouda used the occasion to express her sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Government of The Gambia under the leadership of His Excellency the President for deploying the full government machinery which ensured her recent election as the next Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr Mamadou Tangara thanked the delegates from home and abroad for honouring their invitation. He said the theme of the first ever constitutive meeting was a reflection of the ardent desires of His Excellency the President to create a conducive environment for meaningful cooperation with the Gambians in the Diaspora. He said the high profile nature of the meeting was a manifestation of their commitment towards the achievement of the goals and development aspiration of our beloved country under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency the President. He pointed out that in recent times they have witnessed economic and social transformation of some Asian, Latin American and even some African countries to the collaboration effort with the diaspora.
Indicating the potential contribution of people in the diaspora in national development, Minister Tangara cited that in 2007 a study was conducted by the West Union that indicated that diaspora remittance to developing countries was estimated at 240 billion US Dollars, which is twice the value of official funds from foreign direct investment. In the last few years, he noted, there has been a significant rise in brain-drain from The Gambia to developed countries.
"It is now time to tap their skills and know-how for mutual benefits", he said.
|
By Alhagie Ceesay & Fatou Samba, Department of Information Services
