Around 80 potential candidates attended the kick-off event of the Entrepreneurship by Diaspora for Development (ED4D) project at Humanity House in The Hague on 26 January.

Two Government representatives joined the event from Ethiopia: Ms. Kamale Selamawit Dawit, Director General of the Ethiopian Diaspora Agency, and Mr. Woldetsadik Temesgen Tilahun, Deputy Commissioner of the Industrial Parks Division of the Ethiopian Investment Commission.

The ED4D project encourages the Ethiopian and Ghanaian diaspora residing in the Netherlands, or Dutch entrepreneurs in partnership with the diaspora, to engage themselves as entrepreneurs for the development of the private sector in Ghana and Ethiopia. The project is implemented by IOM in collaboration with PUM (Netherlands Senior Experts). 

 Ms. Kamale Selamawit Dewit presented the overall role and mission of the Diaspora Agency. The Agency was established recently and seeks to work more closely with the worldwide established Ethiopian diaspora. 
Mr. Woldetsadik Temesgen Tilahun gave an overview of the business climate and opportunities in Ethiopia and how the Ethiopian Investment Commission can support start-ups.

The ED4D project is a cooperation between IOM and PUM, Netherlands senior experts. As a retired accountant Mr. Stephen van Kempen is volunteering for PUM. He shared valuable insights into running a successful business. As a PUM volunteer he has helped entrepreneurs in developing countries to further expand their business.

For more information about the ED4D project: https://www.connectingdiaspora.org/