Engaging the Moldovan diaspora

A group of Moldovan civil servants visited the UCL Geography Migration Research Unit on 23 February to discuss their current policies for engaging the Moldovan diaspora in the development of their home country. Moldova has a population of around 3.5 million, with about 20 % living abroad.

Amongst the topics on which the delegation were seeking advice were how to enrol diaspora organisations and to harness potential highly-skilled migrants during their short term return visits to home.

The visit was conducted under the auspices of the International Organisation for Migration and sponsored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation.

For the delegation, the meeting was described as ‘very productive and intense’, and  Dr Ben Page (UCL Geography) added:

“In the past ten years, the Government of Moldova has introduced a number of migration related reforms designed to foster development so it was a real pleasure to meet members of  its Bureau of Diaspora Relations, which is regarded as one of the most innovative and well organised government bodies of its type in Europe.”