THE University of Guyana (UG) will be hosting its inaugural Diaspora Engagement Conference here from July 23 to 28, 2017, under the theme: “Dreaming Diaspora Engagement, Doing Diaspora Engagement.”According to a statement from the institution, the conference is expected to attract several hundred participants and will be hosted with support from “a team of leaders in the diaspora,” along with other stakeholders.
“The conference is organised around two overarching pillars: human, social and entrepreneurship development and diaspora philanthropy and diplomacy. It would provide the platform for developing a diaspora engagement strategy that would inform the work of the first Caribbean Diaspora Engagement Centre,” the statement from the university stated on Friday.
The launch of the centre is expected to be a major highlight of the six-day conference and according to UG’s 10th Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, “The conference will contribute to the development of diaspora policy and a framework to effectively attract direct diaspora investment and engage the diaspora in nation-building.”
The conference has three components, namely; an academic symposium, a business forum, and community engagement. The symposium will receive academic presentations on key issues such as international and regional migration policies, cultural identities and the Diasporas, financial transfers and remittances, social remittances, tourism, diaspora trade and investments, among other areas.
The community engagement dimension will focus on building relationships with key stakeholders such as diaspora community leaders, governments, and hometown associations. In this context, delegates have an opportunity to participate in a Give Back Market Place, where there would be various opportunities to volunteer time and resources to community development projects, the statement noted.
Additionally, the Business Forum will consider the processes for facilitating investment, trade and enterprise development. Members of the government and the private sector will present opportunities and policy initiatives to potential investors.
“Many countries have recognised the potential of their Diasporas and have used structured mechanisms such as diaspora conferences to harness the potential of their Diasporas and engage them effectively,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, members of the huge Caribbean diaspora in New York, Canada, U.K. are expected to attend and provide inputs, match skills and create trans-national networks to build a robust diaspora engagement and productive partnerships.
There are more than two million first and second- generation, Caribbean- descent persons living overseas, who have acquired expertise and experience which can be used to foster sustained economic development in the Caribbean.