[kictanet] On the Diaspora

[Matunda Nyanchama]

Allow me to share the attached papers:

(a) a concept paper on tapping into the potential of the African Diaspora. It is a world bank note that has substantial likeness to work we did a while back under the Kenyan Community Abroad (KCA).
(b) a second paper that focuses on why the Chinese have succeeded more than any other country.


Please look at the annex on "best practices" section; ditto for the section a proposal for a formal framework for engaging the Diaspora.

Below is are short excerpts from the vest practices section, which one can compare with what we have done in Kenya

(NB: Dakitari Ndemo, I agree with you on the point that remittances aren't a sustainable way for development; indeed, some studies indicate that these fall sharply after the first immigrant generation. They have their own problems, such as escalating prices to make things unaffordable local populations but that is a discussion for another day. However, many countries do depend on these for forex earnings.)

....
2. China: Chinese nationals have succeeded in establishing an autonomous structure and have received a high level of both material and symbolic recognition from Chinese authorities. They have:
• With the aim of better profiting from the potential offered by the Diaspora, the Chinese authorities have modified the legal context (multiple-entry visas and job contract), improved economic conditions (tax exemptions, higher expatriate salaries that are sometimes four times higher than for a Chinese colleague, bonuses, etc.) and created a special status for expatriates who wish to work in collaboration with China (honorary posts, national prizes, etc.)
• For their part, Chinese Diasporas can count on efficient logistical support (such as technology parks) at several different levels of government, including county level; 

• Chinese Diaspora can also count on administrative support in form of information processing to facilitate communication among themselves and gain easy access to the information, which are important points for the internal dynamics of such a big group.
• The autonomy they enjoy with respect to the Chinese government allows Diaspora organizations a certain flexibility in their negotiations and spares them the vagaries of Chinese domestic politics.

Summarized from: Young, N., and J. Shih (2003). The Chinese Diaspora and Philanthropy
Harvard University's Global Equity Initiative
<http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~acgei/PDFs/PhilanthropyPDFs/Phil_Chinese_Diaspora.pdf>

Below is a section relevant to technology that, I believe would interest participants on this list.


11. A number of ‘science and
technology parks’ have been established in the most economically developed
provinces, with highly preferential investment terms designed to attract Western-trained ‘overseas
Chinese scholars.’ 
o Overseas Chinese scholars with registered capital of
no more than USD 10,000 can enjoy rent-free office space for the
first year, followed by rental for an unspecified period at 50% of the market price (or an
option to buy at 80% of the market price); start-up companies enjoy a three year
tax holiday, followed by a 50% tax rebate for two years anda 20% rebate for a further
year. 
o An ‘Incubator Park for Returned Scholars’ in Shanghai
similarly offers eight supporting treatments: e.g., the use of a 10,000 m3 workshop for
two years rent-free or for sale at a‘preferential’ price, 50% tax
rebates, low interest loans from a development fund, and an undertaking that the park will
cover all costs ‘including transport, communication, accommodation and meals . . .
[during] . . . the process of project negotiation’ 
o Beijing has established similar facilities and aims to
attract ‘6,000 or more returned scholars’. 


 
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Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, CISSP; mnyanchama at aganoconsulting.com
Agano Consulting Inc.;  www.aganoconsulting.com; Twitter: nmatunda;  Skype: okiambe
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