The Romanian Diaspora

Improving ties with the Romanian community abroad should become a national priority and translate into special public policies and projects

România Internațional, 24.02.2016, 13:37

Half of Romanias active population works abroad. The countrys entry into the European Union in January 2007 gave its citizens the opportunity to travel and work freely abroad, which created the risk of a depletion of the domestic labour force. Only few of those who now live and work abroad plan to return to Romania, but the country cannot afford to waste their precious human capital, said president Klaus Iohannis at a talk entitled ‘The Romanian Diaspora, a Driving Engine for Development.

He said the Romanians working abroad gain experience, develop skills and build networks, which they would not have been able to do at home. Whether its people who excel in their professions or hard-working people doing honest jobs, the Romanians living abroad have something to give to their home country. They have a professional, intellectual, financial, social and civic capital and know whats it like to live in a consolidated democracy, with efficient public services. President Klaus Iohannis is convinced that if the Romanian state changes its approach to its citizens working abroad, the number of those who return will increase. Until then, the significant Romanian community abroad may be an important factor in Romanias development and modernisation. Klaus Iohannis:

“Romania cannot afford to waste the precious human capital represented by our fellow citizens living abroad. We know, for example, that the money they send home every year is a great investment in the country and generates significant economic growth. We have a duty to provide them with concrete opportunities to convince them to invest their talent and resources in a productive way in Romania.

Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos, who also attended the debate about the Romanian community abroad, said his cabinet is working on a number of projects dedicated to this community:

“We are considering creating professional networks and encouraging a networking-type approach. We are also planning to create an agency for investments and commercial promotion. One of the aims of this agency is to encourage the Romanians living abroad to become involved in economic partnerships for foreign investments in Romania and Romanian investments abroad.

The government is working on a project that gives Romanian nationals returning to their home country and investing in agriculture access to special European funds. There are also plans to improve consular administrative services. At any rate, exploring the potential of the Romanians working abroad should go hand in hand with improving the welfare of the Romanians living in Romania, so that the latter dont feel they have to seek a better life abroad.