The IV Moldovan Diaspora Congress ended in Chisinau yesterday, 14 October, with a resolution identifying concrete steps that would strengthen relationships between Moldovan migrants and their country of origin and which would build a more prosperous Moldova.

The Congress, organized by the Bureau of Inter-Ethnic Relations in partnership with IOM, brought together 110 Moldovans living in 31 countries, government ministers, Moldovan President Mihai Ghimpu and Prime Minister Vlad Filat.

The resolution identified measures such as the creation of a specialized state agency on diaspora and a diaspora council with a consultative role for Moldovan government; the involvement of diaspora leaders in Moldovan official delegations; supporting the creation of Moldovan Cultural Centres in cities with large number of Moldovan migrants and promoting policies which would better involve the Moldovan diaspora in the social, economic and political affairs of their home country.

Held as part of an IOM-implemented EU-funded programme, the Congress aimed to strengthen the partnership between the Moldovan government and Moldovan migrants abroad by discussing the most pressing issues of common interest and to find ways for Moldovan migrants to contribute to the development of their country through the experience they gained from being abroad.

Discussions also included the protection of migrants' rights; utilizing educational, cultural and scientific activities abroad to promote national culture and traditions; the importance of Moldovan diaspora in promoting the country towards European integration and ways to consolidate the Moldovan diaspora.

An estimated 300,000 to 600,000 Moldovans live outside of the country with remittances representing more than 34 per cent of GDP, making it one of Europe's most emigration affected countries.

The adopted resolution will be discussed with Moldovan authorities at a later stage and will be included in the National Diaspora Action Plan.

For more information, please contact:

Dorina Andreev
IOM Moldova
Tel: +373 79 200 170
E-mail: dandreev@iom.int