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A joint
session of open and public discussion on the Diaspora Policy and a
concomitant drive of purchase of bond towards the success of the
construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam/GRD/ was undertaken in the Greater
Minneapolis Metropolitan Area in the presence of close to one hundred fifty
Diaspora Ethiopians, according to News Dispatches received from the Depot
Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, the venue where the much anticipated meeting
was convened.
Ambassador Girma Birru, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extra-ordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the US
presided over the meeting and briefed the audience about the significance of
the Diaspora Policy which is highly expected to boost the participation of
the Ethiopian Diaspora communities across the globe in the development
activities of the country and protect their benefits and interests.
The Ethiopian Ambassador to the US on the occasion outlined underpinning
points engrained in the new Draft policy and amplified the multi-ferrous
offers that are designed to stimulate and spur the participation of the
Diaspora community in the national impetus presently rolling in Ethiopia.
According to the briefings presented it was made eloquently clear that the
New Diaspora Policy is charged with conducive and propitious environment
that definitely enhance and strengthen Diaspora participation in a
meaningful manner by providing solid opportunities in multi-faceted services
and other areas of interest across the width and breadth of our nation, it
was learnt.
During the briefings and public discussions held it was made clear that the
Policy is enriched with instruments that facilitate pertinent climate that
encourages members of the Diaspora communities to directly partake at all
levels of decision making through mechanisms that trigger off their
participation. Councils to be established by the Diaspora will enable them
to put their direct input on decisions that impact their participation and
interest the Ambassador highlighted.
Special focus of the Policy the Ambassador stated, were the steps taken to
bring the knowledge, experience, skill and financial resources of the
Diaspora to the country in an organized manner that could entail dual
benefits to the nation and at the same time empower the Diaspora
communities.
In the course of the briefing session a power-point presentation pertaining
to both the Draft Diaspora Policy and the GRD were availed. Members of the
Diaspora communities raised pertinent quips that have enriched the
discourse.
So far, it was learnt that briefing sessions and purchase of bond for the
GRD were held in San Jose, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Boston,
Las Vegas, Seattle, Indianapolis, Denver and Montreal in addition to
Minneapolis. According to information gathered, more than 15,000 members of
the Ethiopian Diaspora are expected to take part in the Policy discussion
only which will take place in 22 cities all over the world.
Present during the public discussion and sale of the GRD bond were officials
from the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa and the
Ethiopian Embassy in Washington DC.
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