Sweden 2013-2014

The Economic Excellence Community is a group of well-known economic professionals, consultants and experts from diaspora and from Republic of Moldova. Among the members of the group is an economist working at IMF, professor from the Business School of Rotterdam, Erasmus University, director of an economic think tank, financial analysts. The aim of the group is to create connections, exchange ideas and opinions, share best practices and experiences, participate in joint programmes and projects, contribute to the development of Goverment’s strategic documents and policy papers.

Thailand has developed an alien administration procedure for irregular migrant workers, in order to change their status under the following processes:

Members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), have an Agreement on Social Security (CASS) that protects pension rights for workers moving between CARICOM member states.

The Sending Money Home web site is a price comparison service for sending remittances from Norway.  

In order to assist the Government in financing development, Financial Bonds have been offered targetting the Diaspora. The Ministry of Finance has been working with the Bank of Ghana to reduce the cost of remittances while enhancing its use for investment (as opposed to mainly for consumption). Currently, there is a World Bank project being coordinated by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning looking at remittances in Ghana.

The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) grants tax incentives to diaspora, including through lower customs duties and fees, reduction in income tax rates, lower tariffs on equipment for investment, and tax deductions on charitable goods. 

A Directorate for Togolese Abroad (that grew out of a diaspora unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation) has made diaspora engagement part of their national development plan—the Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Employment Promotion (SCAPE). 

The Directorate General of Diaspora established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, coordinates issues related to Rwandans living abroad, providing passports and other services to its diaspora.

Moldova has recently established a Bureau for Diaspora Relations, aiming to coordinate the implementation of state policy in relations with the diaspora, contributing, in this way, to the preservation and promotion of the ethnic, cultural and linguistic identity of Moldovans abroad, as well as turning to good account the human and material potential of diaspora.

This project seeks to support Rwanda’s outreach to its diaspora in the EU and beyond and supports short-term individual teaching placements in the health sector.

This allowed for 13 specialist doctors from the Diaspora to participated in short-term programs treating Rwandans in hospitals located in remote areas of the country.