Benard Membe
BRIEF ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIRST DIASPORA HOMECOMING CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN DAR ES SALAAM, 14 TO 15 AUGUST, 2014
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Tanzania Diaspora Initiative (TDI) will conduct a two-day First Diaspora Homecoming Conference, in collaboration with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Government of Zanzibar, commemorating the Tanzania living abroad and returnees in their continued strive for social and economic growth in the country. The event will start with the Conference and end with a gala dinner.
1.2 The theme for the Conference is Connect, Engage, Inform and Invest and it will take place on 14 to 15 August, 2014 at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam.
1.3 The Conference is geared to create a business forum that will encourage skilled Tanzanians in the Diaspora to return home and/or engage in a united front and all other sectors, private and Governmental, to form a dialogue and network their social, educational, knowledge and business/expertise-skills towards national development of their country.
1.4 It would be an opportunity for participants to showcase any and all job opportunities available locally and internationally, investment and entrepreneurial opportunities in Tanzania, and all available information in relevant sectors.
1.5 Since this is the first Diaspora conference to be held in Tanzania, it is anticipated that Diaspora community will seek information on how to invest in Tanzania, Employment Opportunities, Buy Property, Open Bank accounts, Obtain and Access Valuable Information, or buy into any other investment idea. CEOs’s and Heads of the related Institutions will speak and moderate the vent.
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 Tanzania Diaspora Initiative (TDI) was founded in 2012 by the Tanzania Diaspora returnees whose goals are to promote and enhance meaningful connection between Tanzanians living in the country and abroad. Mr. Emannuel Mwachullah is the current Executive Director.
2.2 In their capacity of promoting their endeavors, the TDI initiated the First Diaspora Homecoming Conference, Expo and Gala Dinner 2014, with hope to continue hosting annually in the month of August. The Conference will be showcased as both a workshop and an exhibition event, whereby corporations and marketing firms will take advantage of marketing their goods, services and products to the Tanzanians Diaspora.
2.3 Further, the TDI hopes that the Conference would be attended by relative number of Tanzanians living abroad and returnees with the goal to create a forum where all targeted stakeholders from private and government institutions can fully engage and connect with one another in order to exchange knowledge and expertise for the economic development of the country and to discuss any opportunities and challenges that are faced in areas of investment.
2.4 It is hoped that the two-day Conference venue will serve as a one-stop-shop where the Diaspora can access information they need all at once, and provide an opportunity to create a contact data bank profile for the Tanzania Diaspora. Indeed, the forum is targeted to bring together ideas, knowledge on how investments can be improved in Tanzania, provide a platform for capacity building and collaboration across sectors.
3.0 TANZANIA DIASPORA INITIATIVES PROJECTS
3.1 During the Conference, the TDI has prepared to officially launch the following:
a) The Diaspora Resource Centre, catered to provide any and all necessary information on investment opportunities, tax exemption assistance and facilitation on acquisition of housing facilities among many others. There would be also a fundraising for this resource centre during the event.
b) The Tanzania Diaspora Initiative Website www.tanzaniadiaspora.org,
c) The quarterly magazine dubbed “Diaspora News”.
3.2 CONCLUSION
3.3 It is envisaged that this Conference would open a constructive dialogue in matters related to Diaspora and create valuable job and investment opportunities available in the country. The Conference would also facilitate participants into networking and knowledge-sharing their technical expertises that are much needed for the economic development of the country.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
AUGUST, 2014