Grenada will host a 2-day conference next week to discuss a medium and long-term strategy to maximise the development impact of remittances, direct diaspora investment, and philanthropy.
Attendees will discuss facilitating remittance transfers and empowering stakeholders, migrant and diaspora-led investments as well as migrant and diaspora contributions to skills and knowledge transfer.
With remittances said to be accounting for about 11% of this country’s Gross Domestic Product, the workshop: Leveraging Diaspora Contributions for the Development of Grenada, will seek to increase knowledge of best practices to develop a comprehensive approach to remittances, to help government and stakeholders tap into the potential for diaspora direct investment.
Head of the Diaspora Office in Grenada Derrick James said, “Israel has a good remittance structure from which Grenada can adopt best practices. Israelis in the diaspora contribute significantly to the development of their country through remittances.”
The 27-28 July conference at the Grenada Trade Centre will also be used to identify effective policies to increase development impact and seek buy-in from key stakeholders.
Another expected outcome is the identification of key elements to develop a 5-year roadmap to promote investments and savings in relation to remittances identified. James said, “Increasing the remittances that come in, will result in more money being available to help in the development of the country.”
James further stated, “At the conclusion of the conference, we plan to develop a final document, which we will present to the government, which will in turn, examine the potential to create relevant policies. We will then need to go to the banks to have discussions and we will also need to have a conversation with members of the diaspora, since they are the ones who remit the funds.”
The conference will bring together government representatives, diaspora organisations, representatives of financial institutions, Central Banks, and Credit Unions among others.
GIS
We in the Diaspora have been saying this for years. The problem appears to be that the powers that be in Grenada do not want to take instructions of how things can and should be done. Despite not having the wide ranging international development knowledge, skills and creative vision to deliver on these projects. The “we know what’s best or us in Grenada approach” is preventing/holding back progress in Grenada.
I’m pleased to see that this is now on the front burner again. However, will the Grenadian government relinquish control to more knowledgeable bodies, or adopt the “just send us the money” approach?
What time does this conference begin? And is there a zoom link where interested parties can attend online?
So ….A two day Conference to talk about Leveraging the Money that kind caring people send back to help their families in Grenada.
What have people trying to help their families in Grenada got to do with any of these people.
Absolutely nothing.
This sounds like Greedy bloodsucking Politicians and Government trying to introduce a tax on the little money people are getting to help put bread on the table.
Non of this remittance money is the Government business.