In 2009 the Swedish government appointed an independent Parliamentary Committee on Circular Migration and Development, with the task of examining the link between circular migration and development by mapping circular migration to and from Sweden and identifing factors that influence migrants’ opportunities to circulate.
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.
The German money transfer site (www.geldtransfair.de), shows current rates charged by MTOs and financial institutions, as a transparent way of informing and helping diaspora select cost effective transfer modes.
The Vice-Ministry for Salvadorans abroad has the main goal of promoting the protection of the Salvadorans residing abroad and to enable their access to opportunities to be part of the development of the country.
This objective is to make diaspora investment and remittances more productive and effective and to connect western markets and emerging markets.
The Diaspora Business Centre is a one stop shop that combines business and social interests, paired with professional know-how by diaspora experts.
Their activities entail the following:
AFFORD-UK is a non profit-making diaspora organization which supports diaspora-based business and job creation in countries of origin through various types of partnership. As one practical example of a partnership that delivers business services to microenterprises, AFFORD has recruited African professionals in the UK and sent them as diaspora volunteers to Sierra Leone.
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).