KARACHI - Remittances sent home by overseas Pakistanis continued to show a rising trend as an amount of $4,531.08 million was received in the first half (July-December) of the current fiscal year 2009-10, showing an increase of $891.07m or 24.48 percent over the same period of the last fiscal year. The amount of $4,531.08m includes $0.99m received through encashment and profit earned on Foreign Exchange Bearer Certificates (FEBCs) and Foreign Currency Bearer Certificates (FCBCs).
In December 2009, an amount of $698.44m was sent home by overseas Pakistanis, up 3.70 percent or $24.94m, when compared with $673.50m received in the same month last year.
Read more
Monday, 18 January 2010
Kenya's Diaspora Takes Lead in Investing Back Home
Remittances seen growing as global crisis eases
By Johnstone Ole Turana
Remittances from Kenyans in the diaspora are steadying up with strong indications of a more promising growth in 2010 as the global economic crisis seems to be bottoming up. In addition, remittances from Kenyans in the rest of the world other than the traditional Northern America and Europe sources have been on an upward trend as these regions have relatively been immune to the global crisis. The latest figures from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows that the declining trend associated with remittances in the better part of last year is ebbing out pointing to a possible upward growth this year. Read more
By Johnstone Ole Turana
Remittances from Kenyans in the diaspora are steadying up with strong indications of a more promising growth in 2010 as the global economic crisis seems to be bottoming up. In addition, remittances from Kenyans in the rest of the world other than the traditional Northern America and Europe sources have been on an upward trend as these regions have relatively been immune to the global crisis. The latest figures from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows that the declining trend associated with remittances in the better part of last year is ebbing out pointing to a possible upward growth this year. Read more
CAMEROON: Remittance from Cameroon Migrants Fuels Exotic Domestic Lifestyle
Economic Importance of Remittances
By Ernest L. Molua
Remittances, the portion of migrant workers’ earnings sent home to their families, have been a critical means of financial support for generations. For the most part, these flows have historically been “hidden in plain view”, often uncounted and even ignored. Remittances from Cameroon diaspora are now playing significant role in the socio-economic development of the country.
The impact of remittances is now recognized in Cameroon as constituting an important flow of foreign currency and directly reaching hundreds of thousands of households. Nowhere has the impact been felt more than the agricultural sector and rural areas that employ 70 percent of Cameroonians. However, for remittances to continue financing consumption and investment, such as in education, agricultural and housing projects, among others, the wiring channels and financial intermediaries must be assisted to provide better services
Read Complete Report
Source
By Ernest L. Molua
Remittances, the portion of migrant workers’ earnings sent home to their families, have been a critical means of financial support for generations. For the most part, these flows have historically been “hidden in plain view”, often uncounted and even ignored. Remittances from Cameroon diaspora are now playing significant role in the socio-economic development of the country.
The impact of remittances is now recognized in Cameroon as constituting an important flow of foreign currency and directly reaching hundreds of thousands of households. Nowhere has the impact been felt more than the agricultural sector and rural areas that employ 70 percent of Cameroonians. However, for remittances to continue financing consumption and investment, such as in education, agricultural and housing projects, among others, the wiring channels and financial intermediaries must be assisted to provide better services
Read Complete Report
Source
Friday, 15 January 2010
PAKISTAN: ‘Foreign remittances to touch $12bn this year’
Friday, January 15, 2010
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Farooq Sattar on Thursday told National Assembly (NA) that foreign remittances would touch $12 billion mark this year, hoping that if it continues with the same pace, the country would shortly get deliverance from foreign loans.
This year, “we have set the target for one billion dollars per month. The country would soon get rid of IMF and the other foreign funding institutions if the influx goes on with the same pace,” the minister said.
He said the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OFP) generates its income through the registration fee for members, fees of educational institutions and the sale of plots in its housing scheme, adding that recently the ministry has allotted 1,200 plots to overseas Pakistanis through balloting.
Sattar told the house that no scholarship scheme is being provided to the overseas Pakistanis, currently, for higher education as it would be beyond the financial capacity of the foundation. The minister said the OPF has established two schools and three colleges in Pakistan to provide education to the children of overseas Pakistanis. Source
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Farooq Sattar on Thursday told National Assembly (NA) that foreign remittances would touch $12 billion mark this year, hoping that if it continues with the same pace, the country would shortly get deliverance from foreign loans.
This year, “we have set the target for one billion dollars per month. The country would soon get rid of IMF and the other foreign funding institutions if the influx goes on with the same pace,” the minister said.
He said the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OFP) generates its income through the registration fee for members, fees of educational institutions and the sale of plots in its housing scheme, adding that recently the ministry has allotted 1,200 plots to overseas Pakistanis through balloting.
Sattar told the house that no scholarship scheme is being provided to the overseas Pakistanis, currently, for higher education as it would be beyond the financial capacity of the foundation. The minister said the OPF has established two schools and three colleges in Pakistan to provide education to the children of overseas Pakistanis. Source
For President Obama, earthquake charity begins at home
When will President Obama show some real courage on Haiti? When will he end the glaring double-standard in our government's treatment of that devastated nation?
The President should be commended for quickly dispatching a rescue operation for hundreds of thousands of Haitian victims of this week's earthquake and for pledging $100 million in relief aid.
But Obama has balked at issuing a simple order that could provide thousands of Haitian immigrants in this country the chance to help rebuild their homeland.
Read more;
The President should be commended for quickly dispatching a rescue operation for hundreds of thousands of Haitian victims of this week's earthquake and for pledging $100 million in relief aid.
But Obama has balked at issuing a simple order that could provide thousands of Haitian immigrants in this country the chance to help rebuild their homeland.
Read more;
HAITI: Earthquake disrupts key payments lifeline
The earthquake that struck Haiti Tuesday destroyed much of its telecommunications infrastructure. A few Western Union locations in Haiti had sporadic service by Friday, but the vast majority of them were inoperable.
By Allison Linn
Senior writer
msnbc.com
updated 2:13 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2010
The earthquake in Haiti has disrupted a key economic lifeline for many in this impoverished nation: Money sent from family members working elsewhere in the world back to their native country.
Such remittances, as they are called, totaled around $1.2 billion in 2009, according to estimates from the World Bank, and have equaled about 20 percent of the country’s GDP in recent years.
“In a sense it helps people keep their heads above the water,” said Robert Maguire, a Haiti specialist at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Read More
PHILIPPINES: OFW remittances up 11.3% in November
MANILA, Philippines - Money sent home by Filipinos abroad accelerated to its fastest level in 14 months due to the continued deployment of skilled workers abroad, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. reported yesterday.
Tetangco said remittances from overseas Filipinos grew by 11.3 percent to $1.459 billion in November last year from $1.311 billion in the same month in 2008.
He pointed out that this was the highest year-on-year expansion since October 2008 when overseas Filipino workers’ remittances jumped by 16.9 percent.
“The continued deployment of skilled Filipino workers abroad has remained the driving force behind the steady stream of remittance flows,” Tetangco said.
He added that the higher transfer of funds in November could also be partly attributed to the strong support of OFWs to the rebuilding efforts of families and relatives whose properties were damaged by tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng.
Read more
Tetangco said remittances from overseas Filipinos grew by 11.3 percent to $1.459 billion in November last year from $1.311 billion in the same month in 2008.
He pointed out that this was the highest year-on-year expansion since October 2008 when overseas Filipino workers’ remittances jumped by 16.9 percent.
“The continued deployment of skilled Filipino workers abroad has remained the driving force behind the steady stream of remittance flows,” Tetangco said.
He added that the higher transfer of funds in November could also be partly attributed to the strong support of OFWs to the rebuilding efforts of families and relatives whose properties were damaged by tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng.
Read more
Kenyan shilling stable vs dollar, eyes on c.bank
NAIROBI (Reuters) - The Kenyan shilling held steady against the dollar on Thursday and traders said any future gains would likely be limited by central bank buying of the U.S. currency.
At 0920 GMT, commercial banks quoted the local unit at 75.35/45, the same as Wednesday's close.
Traders said they saw the shilling in a 75.00-75.70 range in coming days.
"Both counters are well balanced and at the moment, what we are seeing is the bias remains for a stronger shilling, though CBK (Central Bank of Kenya) activity is limiting the shilling's appreciation," said a senior trader at one commercial bank.
The bank stayed out of the foreign exchange market on Thursday, but bought the U.S. currency in the previous session.
The central bank also said on Wednesday that remittances sent from Kenyans abroad in the first 11 months of last year fell by 3.2 percent to $553 million compared with a similar period in 2008.
Remittances are Kenya's third biggest source of foreign exchange after tourism and agricultural exports. Source
At 0920 GMT, commercial banks quoted the local unit at 75.35/45, the same as Wednesday's close.
Traders said they saw the shilling in a 75.00-75.70 range in coming days.
"Both counters are well balanced and at the moment, what we are seeing is the bias remains for a stronger shilling, though CBK (Central Bank of Kenya) activity is limiting the shilling's appreciation," said a senior trader at one commercial bank.
The bank stayed out of the foreign exchange market on Thursday, but bought the U.S. currency in the previous session.
The central bank also said on Wednesday that remittances sent from Kenyans abroad in the first 11 months of last year fell by 3.2 percent to $553 million compared with a similar period in 2008.
Remittances are Kenya's third biggest source of foreign exchange after tourism and agricultural exports. Source
Africa: Leveraging the Impact of Remittances to Africa
Increasingly Africans living and working abroad are being called upon to take a more active role in the development of the continent. Some African countries have established Diaspora forums to engage the experience (and financial assistance) of these expatriates and migrants.
An often overlooked fact about the African Diaspora is that the amounts of money migrants send home to relatives and friends each year generally exceeds the amount of money given to Africa through official development aid.
Estimates of the average total annual value of remittances to Africa vary between $32 and $40 billion. (This excludes the informal network of money transfers, which is significant. If taken into account this figure could increase by as much as 50%.) Official development aid is around $25 billion per annum (according to promises issued during the G8 Summit). Read more
An often overlooked fact about the African Diaspora is that the amounts of money migrants send home to relatives and friends each year generally exceeds the amount of money given to Africa through official development aid.
Estimates of the average total annual value of remittances to Africa vary between $32 and $40 billion. (This excludes the informal network of money transfers, which is significant. If taken into account this figure could increase by as much as 50%.) Official development aid is around $25 billion per annum (according to promises issued during the G8 Summit). Read more
Saturday, 9 January 2010
GHANA: Educated Ghanaians look for jobs outside – Report
A growing number of educated Ghanaians are leaving the country in search of jobs in other lands, an International Organisation for Migration (IOM) report has found out.
The Ghana migration profile which was released Friday January 8, 2009 said trained Ghanaians are seeking jobs outside the country because of lack of employment opportunities for young people and “the decline of Nigeria as a major destination for Ghanaians.”
The report which covers 10 West African countries found that although 71% of Ghanaian migrants stay in West Africa, a growing number of Ghanaians are now to be found outside the region. Ghanaian migrants, according to the report can be found in 33 countries worldwide. Read more
The Ghana migration profile which was released Friday January 8, 2009 said trained Ghanaians are seeking jobs outside the country because of lack of employment opportunities for young people and “the decline of Nigeria as a major destination for Ghanaians.”
The report which covers 10 West African countries found that although 71% of Ghanaian migrants stay in West Africa, a growing number of Ghanaians are now to be found outside the region. Ghanaian migrants, according to the report can be found in 33 countries worldwide. Read more
INDIA: India to provide aid for foreign workers
By James Lamont in New Delhi
Published: January 9 2010 02:00 | Last updated: January 9 2010 02:00
India is readying an emergency social security system for workers who have lost their jobs overseas as a result of the global economic downturn.
Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, yesterday said his government was taking steps to protect the country's expatriate workforce from the adverse effects of the economic crisis in their place of work and when they returned home. He pledged that their security was a top priority for his Congress party-led administration.
The measures reflect the severity with which this sector of the workforce has been affected over the past months in spite of recent assurances that credit woes in Dubai would not inflict too much damage on a big source of its labour. About 4.5m Indian workers are employed in the Gulf, half of them in the United Arab Emirates.
Read more
Published: January 9 2010 02:00 | Last updated: January 9 2010 02:00
India is readying an emergency social security system for workers who have lost their jobs overseas as a result of the global economic downturn.
Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, yesterday said his government was taking steps to protect the country's expatriate workforce from the adverse effects of the economic crisis in their place of work and when they returned home. He pledged that their security was a top priority for his Congress party-led administration.
The measures reflect the severity with which this sector of the workforce has been affected over the past months in spite of recent assurances that credit woes in Dubai would not inflict too much damage on a big source of its labour. About 4.5m Indian workers are employed in the Gulf, half of them in the United Arab Emirates.
Read more
VIETNAM: Overseas remittances down 12.8%, says State Bank
Remittances by overseas Vietnamese for the home country totaled US$6.283 billion last year, a year on year drop of 12.8 percent, the State Bank of Vietnam said.
A State Bank report said the number did not drop significantly as forecast in the year of global economic downturn.
Last year, Ho Chi Minh City alone received from overseas Vietnamese remittances of US$3.2 billion.
Among the sums, the Foreign Trade Bank of Vietnam (Vietcombank) transmitted US$1.3 billion, US$100 million less than in 2008. HCM City-based Sacombank enjoyed a 10 percent increase in remittances, posting at US$850 million.
The money transfer company of DongA Bank reported a 15 percent decrease to US$1 billion. Company deputy director Trinh Hoai Nam said the amount of remittances increased considerably in December, as the global economy has already showed signs of recovery. Source
A State Bank report said the number did not drop significantly as forecast in the year of global economic downturn.
Last year, Ho Chi Minh City alone received from overseas Vietnamese remittances of US$3.2 billion.
Among the sums, the Foreign Trade Bank of Vietnam (Vietcombank) transmitted US$1.3 billion, US$100 million less than in 2008. HCM City-based Sacombank enjoyed a 10 percent increase in remittances, posting at US$850 million.
The money transfer company of DongA Bank reported a 15 percent decrease to US$1 billion. Company deputy director Trinh Hoai Nam said the amount of remittances increased considerably in December, as the global economy has already showed signs of recovery. Source
President asks NRIs to participate in India’s ‘unfolding’ growth story
President Pratibha Patil on Saturday called upon overseas Indians to participate and benefit in India’s “unfolding growth story.”
Delivering the valedictory address at the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas on the day Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915, the President pointed out that overseas Indians, estimated at over 250 lakhs, had come to be recognised as the ‘Knowledge Diaspora.’ With India making its investment environment more conducive, it was time this Indian community with its knowledge, expertise, skills and resources became an important input in “India’s march to becoming a developed country.”
India’s investment needs were over dollars 500 billions spanning both the social and physical infrastructure sectors and the country was looking at investment increasingly in the public-private partnership model. While the requirements in physical infrastructure were well documented, Ms. Patil drew attention to the social side with the government focusing on improving the quality of education at all levels and estimating an annual growth arte of about six per cent in healthcare infrastructure. Read more
Delivering the valedictory address at the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas on the day Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915, the President pointed out that overseas Indians, estimated at over 250 lakhs, had come to be recognised as the ‘Knowledge Diaspora.’ With India making its investment environment more conducive, it was time this Indian community with its knowledge, expertise, skills and resources became an important input in “India’s march to becoming a developed country.”
India’s investment needs were over dollars 500 billions spanning both the social and physical infrastructure sectors and the country was looking at investment increasingly in the public-private partnership model. While the requirements in physical infrastructure were well documented, Ms. Patil drew attention to the social side with the government focusing on improving the quality of education at all levels and estimating an annual growth arte of about six per cent in healthcare infrastructure. Read more
Remittances From Abroad: A Tool For National Development
Remittances are defined as the monetary transfers that a migrant sends to his or her country of origin or, in other words, financial flows associated with migration. Most remittances are personal cash transfers from a migrant worker or immigrant to a relative in the country of origin. Some scholars and academics go further to add transfers of skills and technology, as well as “social remittances” (Baruah, 2006, in OSCE, IOM, ILO, 2007). Over the years, remittances have contributed to the economies of many countries which have led to rapid development especially in the areas of infrastructure, family wellbeing, among others.
Remittances sent back home by migrants are a powerful financial force in developing countries. It is estimated that after foreign direct investment and trade related earnings, remittances form the largest financial flow to developing countries, often far larger than official development assistance (Castles and Delgado, 2008, page 222). According to the balance of payments data, total transfers to the Ghanaian economy ranged between US$ 400 million in 2002. Of the total transfers, private unrequited transfers, increased from US$201.9 Million in 1990 to almost US$ 680Million in 2002(Manuh, 2005).Read more
Remittances sent back home by migrants are a powerful financial force in developing countries. It is estimated that after foreign direct investment and trade related earnings, remittances form the largest financial flow to developing countries, often far larger than official development assistance (Castles and Delgado, 2008, page 222). According to the balance of payments data, total transfers to the Ghanaian economy ranged between US$ 400 million in 2002. Of the total transfers, private unrequited transfers, increased from US$201.9 Million in 1990 to almost US$ 680Million in 2002(Manuh, 2005).Read more
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
e-Consultation on Migration and Rural Development: Second Series
Dear all,
With this message, we are pleased to inform you that we have concluded the first round of our e-consultation. We would like to thank those who sent their contributions. We also received relevant documents which you can view in our blog
Starting today, we will be sharing experiences and opinions on the theme Remittance Flows and their contribution to rural development.
The current global economic crisis highlighted the impact of remittances in developing countries. The data shows that in some countries remittances continue to perform better. The governments of Bangladesh and the Philippines acknowledged that without migrants’ contributions the country could have suffered more during the crisis. The Ugandan government plans to scrap visa fees it charges Ugandans in the Diaspora when coming back home. The government plans to create a fully-developed diaspora department to guide Diasporas on how to invest and succeed back home. These are latest initiatives in remittance-receiving countries to harness the potentials.
Enclosed you will find a brief background information and some guide questions. We encourage you to actively participate in the discussion which will run until January 20. We hope to get deeper insights on the contribution of remittance flows to rural development.
Please note that your contributions will be included in the summary which we will prepare at the end of the consultation.
If you are interested to join in the discussion group, please email: leila.wimler(at)gmail.com
We wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR and let us hope and work for a safer, greener, and better world.
Best regards,
On behalf of the organizers
Leila Rispens-Noel
Theme 2: Remittance Flows and their contribution to rural development
Remittances have become the second largest capital flow behind Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and ahead of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). In 2001, remittances represented 42% of total FDI flows and 260% of ODA; remittance flows have surpassed ODA since 1995. Today remittances constitute the fastest growing and most stable capital flow to developing countries. Remittances have more than doubled in value in the past decade and also grown faster than migration - a trend which is likely to continue. Thus, while FDI and ODA have occupied the limelight of development finance to date, remittances have made a quiet yet substantial contribution to international capital flows as well as to national balance of payments, forex reserves, and, especially, to the welfare of receiving households in developing countries .
A good proportion of remittance flows also originate in developing countries. The World Bank notes that these so-called South-South remittance flows make up between 30 and 45 percent of total remittances received by developing countries. In fact, remittance flows to poor countries actually originate largely in the middle-income developing countries. China, Malaysia, and the Russian Federation, for example, are among the top 20 sources of remittances .
Remittances and their investment are significantly hampered by inefficiencies and access barriers in financial systems and services, both in sending and receiving countries. It is estimated that on average one third of remittances flow through informal channels; for countries with weak financial sectors or tight forex controls, sending money via informal channels is more common .
Donors have begun to recognize the role of remittances and have become interested primarily in how to facilitate an increase of the flow and use of remittances for developmental benefits. This includes how to facilitate a reduction in transaction cost and better access to formal sector transfer services; as well as how to better integrate and improve access to a broader range of financial services through remittances as an ‘entry point’.
QUESTIONS:
1) Are remittances a relatively large and stable source of funding for ACP countries? What do remittances generate at both micro and macro-economic levels?
2) What are the households’ uses of remittances?
3) Do remittances contribute to rural development? What concrete examples, best practices do we have in terms of contribution of remittances to productive resources and wealth creation in rural areas?
4) What examples can be shared as successes in investment in human and social capital (e.g., health care, nutrition, education) and in building assets (e.g., real estate, business, and savings)?
5) Has the financial crisis affected this source of income?
Chers Participants,
Nous avons le plaisir de vous informer que nous allons clôturer le premier thème de notre consultation électronique. Merci à tous ceux qui ont envoyé leurs contributions. Nous avons également reçu des documents intéressants sur le sujet, vous pouvez les consulter sur notre blog: http://consultation-migration-fr.blogspot.com/
A partir d’aujourd’hui, nous allons partager nos expériences et nos points de vue sur le thème: Les transferts des migrants et leur contribution au développement rural.
A l’heure actuelle, la crise économique globale a mis en évidence l’impact de transferts des migrants sur les pays en développement. Les données montrent que dans certains pays les transferts d’argent continuent leur trend positif. Les gouvernements du Bangladesh et des Philippines ont reconnu que sans la contribution des transferts des migrants, leurs pays auraient beaucoup plus souffert lors de la crise. Le gouvernement ougandais a planifié d’annuler les coûts de visa pour la diaspora ougandaise qui rentre dans son pays d’origine. Le gouvernement vise à créer un département entièrement dédié à la Diaspora, afin de la guider dans ses investissements et ses chances de réussir dans son pays d’origine. Celles-ci sont seulement certaines des dernières initiatives développées par les pays de destination des transferts des migrants, pour en exploiter le potentiel.
Veuillez trouver ci-dessous une brève note d’introduction à cet argument et des questions clé.
Nous vous encourageons à participer activement à cette discussion, qui se poursuivra jusqu’au 20 janvier 2010, dans l’espoir d’améliorer notre compréhension de la contribution de ces transferts d’argent des migrants au développement rural.
Veuillez noter que vos contributions seront inclues dans le résumé que nous allons préparer à la fin de la consultation.
Nous vous souhaitons une très bonne nouvelle année 2010, dans l’espoir de contribuer à un monde meilleur, plus vert et avec une sécurité accrue.
Meilleures salutations,
Au nom des organisateurs,
Leila Rispens-Noel
Thème 2: Les transferts des migrants et leur contribution au développement rural
Les transferts de fonds sont devenus le deuxième plus important flux de capitaux après l'investissement direct étranger (IDE) et avant l’Aide Publique au Développement (APD). En 2001, les transferts de fonds représentaient 42% du total des flux d'IDE et 260% de l'APD; les flux de transfert de fonds ont dépassé l'APD depuis 1995. Aujourd'hui, les envois de fonds constituent un flux de capitaux vers les pays en développement en croissance rapide et stable. Les transferts ont plus que doublé en valeur dans la dernière décennie et ont également augmenté plus rapidement que la migration - une tendance qui devrait se poursuivre. Ainsi, alors que les IDE et l'APD ont représenté la partie la plus importante du financement au développement à ce jour, les envois de fonds ont apporté une contribution stable et substantielle aux flux internationaux de capitaux ainsi qu’à la balance nationale des paiements, aux réserves de changes, et surtout, au bien-être de ménages de destination dans les pays en développement .
Une bonne proportion des flux de transfert de fonds a son origine dans les pays en développement. La Banque mondiale note que les soi-disant transferts des migrants Sud-Sud représentent entre 30 et 45% du montant total des transferts reçus par les pays en développement. En fait, les flux de transferts vers les pays pauvres proviennent très largement des pays en développement à revenu intermédiaire. Par exemple, la Chine, la Malaisie et la Russie figurent parmi les 20 principales sources de transferts de fonds .
Les envois de fonds et leurs investissements sont sensiblement entravés par les carences et les obstacles liées à l'accès aux systèmes et services financiers, tant dans les pays d'envoi que de réception. On estime qu’en moyenne un tiers de transferts de fonds passe par des voies informelles; pour les pays avec un secteur financier fragile ou de contrôles des changes serrés, l'envoi d'argent via des canaux informels est plus courant .
Les bailleurs de fonds ont commencé à reconnaître le rôle des transferts de fonds et se sont intéressés principalement aux moyens de faciliter une augmentation de flux et de les utiliser pour des objectifs de développement. Cela comprend une réduction des coûts de transaction et un meilleur accès aux services de transfert du secteur formel, ainsi qu’une meilleure intégration et l’accès à un plus large éventail de services financiers à travers les transferts de fonds comme «point d'entrée».
QUESTIONS:
1) Les transferts de fonds constituent-ils une source relativement importante et stable de financement pour les pays ACP? Qu'engendrent les transferts de fonds au niveau micro et macro-économique?
2) Comment les ménages destinataires emploient-ils les fonds transférés?
3) Les transferts de fonds contribuent-ils au développement rural? Quels exemples concrets/meilleures pratiques avons-nous en termes de contribution des transferts de fonds aux ressources productives et à la création de richesses dans les zones rurales?
4) Avez-vous quelques exemples à partager de succès dans l'investissement en capital humain et social (par exemple: soins de santé, nutrition, éducation) et dans la création d’un patrimoine (par exemple, l'immobilier, le secteur commercial, différentes formes d'épargne)?
5) Est-ce que la crise financière a affecté cette source de revenu?
VIETNAM: Remittances From Abroad Fall 20 Per Cent In 2009
HANOI, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- Remittances into Vietnam in 2009 are expected to fall considerably against 2008, but investment has remained buoyant despite the global economic recession, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported Monday.
Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy head of the State Bank of Vietnam's HCM City branch, said remittances into Vietnam through banks and agents in HCM City were worth about US$3.2 billion this year, down 20 per cent against 2008.
Le Duc Thuy, chairman of the National Financial Supervison Commission, said that a reduction in remittances in 2009 was unavoidable, due partly to rising unemployment in countries where Vietnamese expats live.
It is estimated that total remittances into the country in 2009 may reach US$6-6.8 billion, down from US$7.2 billion in 2008. Read more
Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy head of the State Bank of Vietnam's HCM City branch, said remittances into Vietnam through banks and agents in HCM City were worth about US$3.2 billion this year, down 20 per cent against 2008.
Le Duc Thuy, chairman of the National Financial Supervison Commission, said that a reduction in remittances in 2009 was unavoidable, due partly to rising unemployment in countries where Vietnamese expats live.
It is estimated that total remittances into the country in 2009 may reach US$6-6.8 billion, down from US$7.2 billion in 2008. Read more
Mexican Remittances Fall at Lowest Rate in 8 Months
By Crayton Harrison
Jan. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Mexican remittances fell 14 percent in November, the smallest decline in eight months, as U.S. job cuts slowed.
Money sent from workers living outside Mexico declined to $1.5 billion in November from $1.75 billion in the same month a year earlier, the central bank said today on its Web site. It was the smallest decline since a 0.55 percent drop in March.
Mexicans in the U.S. may have benefited as U.S. job losses reached their lowest in 23 months, signaling that the economic recovery is pulling the labor market out of its slump. Employers cut 11,000 jobs in November, bringing the total decline in the U.S. job market to 7.2 million jobs since December 2007.
The decline in remittances to Mexico peaked in October with a record 36 percent drop from a year earlier.
To contact the reporter on this story: Crayton Harrison in Mexico City at tharrison5@bloomberg.net
Source
Jan. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Mexican remittances fell 14 percent in November, the smallest decline in eight months, as U.S. job cuts slowed.
Money sent from workers living outside Mexico declined to $1.5 billion in November from $1.75 billion in the same month a year earlier, the central bank said today on its Web site. It was the smallest decline since a 0.55 percent drop in March.
Mexicans in the U.S. may have benefited as U.S. job losses reached their lowest in 23 months, signaling that the economic recovery is pulling the labor market out of its slump. Employers cut 11,000 jobs in November, bringing the total decline in the U.S. job market to 7.2 million jobs since December 2007.
The decline in remittances to Mexico peaked in October with a record 36 percent drop from a year earlier.
To contact the reporter on this story: Crayton Harrison in Mexico City at tharrison5@bloomberg.net
Source
Bangladesh 2009 Remittances Were More Than $10 Billion Read more
Siddique Islam - AHN Correspondent
Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHN) - Bangladeshis working abroad sent home a record $10.72 billion in 2009, as remittances continued to scale new heights despite the global meltdown, officials told AHN Media on Monday.
They said the amount is 19.39 percent higher than what the country's more than six million workers had remitted in the previous 2008 calendar year.
The remittances from Bangladeshi nationals working abroad were estimated at $876.33 million in December, which was a drop of $174.21 million from the previous month. In November 2009, the remittances stood at $1.050 billion, according to the central bank statistics, released on Monday.
"The flow of remittances is still at a satisfactory level," a senior official of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), the country's central bank, told AHN in Dhaka, adding that the inflow of remittances normally fall after the Eid-ul-Azha festival.
Read more
Dhaka, Bangladesh (AHN) - Bangladeshis working abroad sent home a record $10.72 billion in 2009, as remittances continued to scale new heights despite the global meltdown, officials told AHN Media on Monday.
They said the amount is 19.39 percent higher than what the country's more than six million workers had remitted in the previous 2008 calendar year.
The remittances from Bangladeshi nationals working abroad were estimated at $876.33 million in December, which was a drop of $174.21 million from the previous month. In November 2009, the remittances stood at $1.050 billion, according to the central bank statistics, released on Monday.
"The flow of remittances is still at a satisfactory level," a senior official of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), the country's central bank, told AHN in Dhaka, adding that the inflow of remittances normally fall after the Eid-ul-Azha festival.
Read more
Saturday, 2 January 2010
Poor nations seen to get lower inflows
MANILA, Philippines - A study by the World Bank is projecting that remittance flows to developing countries will reach $317 billion in 2009, down by 6.1 percent from the $338 billion in 2008. The projection was based on data for the first three quarters of 2009.
The WB study forecasts that remittances will expand by 1.4 percent in 2010, and by 3.9 percent in 2011.
“Economic growth is beginning to recover after the global slump that began in 2008. But growth will remain weak in 2010 and 2011, and is unlikely to reach the brisk pace seen before the crisis,” it said.
According to the bank, one risk is that the crisis could last longer than expected.
“The emerging recovery in construction and other sectors in the US may not be sustained after the effects of the stimulus package wears out,” the study noted.
Read more
The WB study forecasts that remittances will expand by 1.4 percent in 2010, and by 3.9 percent in 2011.
“Economic growth is beginning to recover after the global slump that began in 2008. But growth will remain weak in 2010 and 2011, and is unlikely to reach the brisk pace seen before the crisis,” it said.
According to the bank, one risk is that the crisis could last longer than expected.
“The emerging recovery in construction and other sectors in the US may not be sustained after the effects of the stimulus package wears out,” the study noted.
Read more
VIETNAM: Remittances from abroad fall 20% in 2009
HA NOI — Remittances into Viet Nam in 2009 are expected to fall considerably against 2008, but investment has remained buoyant despite the global economic recession.
Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy head of the State Bank of Viet Nam’s HCM City branch, said remittances into Viet Nam through banks and agents in HCM City were worth about US$3.2 billion this year, down 20 per cent against 2008.
Le Duc Thuy, chairman of the National Financial Supervison Commission, said that a reduction in remittances in 2009 was unavoidable, due partly to rising unemployment in countries where Vietnamese expats live. Read more
Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy head of the State Bank of Viet Nam’s HCM City branch, said remittances into Viet Nam through banks and agents in HCM City were worth about US$3.2 billion this year, down 20 per cent against 2008.
Le Duc Thuy, chairman of the National Financial Supervison Commission, said that a reduction in remittances in 2009 was unavoidable, due partly to rising unemployment in countries where Vietnamese expats live. Read more
Friday, 1 January 2010
Bangladesh economy shows its mettle in 2009 amid global recession
DHAKA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh economy showed its mettle in 2009 when it passed one of the toughest tests triggered by the global financial meltdown, which significantly impacted performances in the major Asian nations and most of the developed countries, officials said Thursday.
They said almost all the major sectors including exports, imports, remittance and the stock market of the South Asian country have performed well in 2009 despite the shocks of global recession.
The country's central bank Thursday said Bangladesh attained a 5.9 percent GDP (gross domestic product) growth in the first half of the current fiscal year 2009-10 (July 2009-June 2010), leaving six more months to achieve the 6 percent target.
"Our GDP target growth will be achieved by the end of the fiscal year as all the key indicators of the economy are showing positive trend," Bangladesh Bank (BB) governor Atiur Rahman told reporters Thursday. Read more
They said almost all the major sectors including exports, imports, remittance and the stock market of the South Asian country have performed well in 2009 despite the shocks of global recession.
The country's central bank Thursday said Bangladesh attained a 5.9 percent GDP (gross domestic product) growth in the first half of the current fiscal year 2009-10 (July 2009-June 2010), leaving six more months to achieve the 6 percent target.
"Our GDP target growth will be achieved by the end of the fiscal year as all the key indicators of the economy are showing positive trend," Bangladesh Bank (BB) governor Atiur Rahman told reporters Thursday. Read more
UGANDA: Government plans to scrap Diaspora visa fees
Kampala
The government plans to scrap visa fees it charges Ugandans in the Diaspora when coming back home.
At a two-day Diaspora Summit held in Kampala, State Minister for Internal Affairs Okello Oryem said: “The Immigration department will design special stickers and in that case you will not be charged visa fees when you come back home because you’re citizens.”
According to records from the Immigration Office, people who were formerly Ugandans are charged $400 (Shs760,000) as visa fee.
The scrapping of the visa fee is part of the government’s new strategy that will manage pertinent issues affecting Ugandans living in the Diaspora like harassment and their legitimacy to stay in the respective countries where they live.
“A fully-developed diaspora department will also help guide you on how to invest and succeed back home. In the past Ugandan embassies have been a no-go area for the Diaspora but this is going to change,” he added. Read more
The government plans to scrap visa fees it charges Ugandans in the Diaspora when coming back home.
At a two-day Diaspora Summit held in Kampala, State Minister for Internal Affairs Okello Oryem said: “The Immigration department will design special stickers and in that case you will not be charged visa fees when you come back home because you’re citizens.”
According to records from the Immigration Office, people who were formerly Ugandans are charged $400 (Shs760,000) as visa fee.
The scrapping of the visa fee is part of the government’s new strategy that will manage pertinent issues affecting Ugandans living in the Diaspora like harassment and their legitimacy to stay in the respective countries where they live.
“A fully-developed diaspora department will also help guide you on how to invest and succeed back home. In the past Ugandan embassies have been a no-go area for the Diaspora but this is going to change,” he added. Read more
‘Pakistan Must Recognise Expatriates’ Remittances’
Mohammad Abdul Qudoos
31 December 2009
DUBAI - Pakistani community organisations overseas have to launch a united campaign for the promotion of foreign investment in their home country, a House of Lords member of Pakistani origin said.
Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham told a community gathering on Tuesday that the Pakistani government should, at the same time, frame policies to encourage overseas Pakistanis to invest back home.
Many people in the UK want to invest in Pakistan, they need encouragement and the respect they deserve, he said.
“Overseas Pakistanis remit as much as $9 billion annually to their home country, but their government salutes the US for giving a mere $1.5 billion a year,” Lord Nazir said.
“We should do everything to promote investment in Pakistan and say ‘No’ to terrorism,” he said. Read more
31 December 2009
DUBAI - Pakistani community organisations overseas have to launch a united campaign for the promotion of foreign investment in their home country, a House of Lords member of Pakistani origin said.
Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham told a community gathering on Tuesday that the Pakistani government should, at the same time, frame policies to encourage overseas Pakistanis to invest back home.
Many people in the UK want to invest in Pakistan, they need encouragement and the respect they deserve, he said.
“Overseas Pakistanis remit as much as $9 billion annually to their home country, but their government salutes the US for giving a mere $1.5 billion a year,” Lord Nazir said.
“We should do everything to promote investment in Pakistan and say ‘No’ to terrorism,” he said. Read more
LEBANON: World Bank sees 9 percent decline in outward remittances from GCC in 2009
Growth expected to rebound in 2010 after period of economic protraction
BEIRUT: According to the World Bank, cash transfers from the GCC are expected to slow down in 2009 before picking up again in 2010 due to a projected improvement in oil prices and better global economic prospects. The World Bank said the slowdown in 2009 is due to slackening economies and layoffs from private and public sector companies. The World Bank report was published by Bank Audi’s MENA Weekly Monitor.
The World Bank forecasts a decline of around 9 percent in remittances from GCC this year due to drop in economic activity and higher cost of living. However, there are emerging signs of a bottoming out and the economies reviving.
According to the revised projections by the World Bank, global economic growth is expected to rebound to 2 percent in 2010 and 3.2 percent by 2011 after an expected contraction of 2.9 percent 2009. Read more
BEIRUT: According to the World Bank, cash transfers from the GCC are expected to slow down in 2009 before picking up again in 2010 due to a projected improvement in oil prices and better global economic prospects. The World Bank said the slowdown in 2009 is due to slackening economies and layoffs from private and public sector companies. The World Bank report was published by Bank Audi’s MENA Weekly Monitor.
The World Bank forecasts a decline of around 9 percent in remittances from GCC this year due to drop in economic activity and higher cost of living. However, there are emerging signs of a bottoming out and the economies reviving.
According to the revised projections by the World Bank, global economic growth is expected to rebound to 2 percent in 2010 and 3.2 percent by 2011 after an expected contraction of 2.9 percent 2009. Read more
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