The 10th edition of the Diaspora Congress has started in Chisinau on Friday, bringing together around 300 participants. The event focuses on digital instruments for Moldovans all over the world and on opportunities for capitalizing on the experience of the diaspora.
“August is the month that brings the warmest emotions for the vast majority of families in our country. It is the month when the towns are again full of people, of children, of spread tables around which our families gather. Whereas in other countries August is the period of holidays, for us this month is the period of family reunions, the period when many of our families are together again, whole again. And August is probably the most beloved period for our grandparents, because they get to see their grandchildren personally and not virtually. Thank you for making Moldova whole and full of joy every August. Thank you for continuing to help those at home during the year”, declared President Maia Sandu in her welcoming speech.
She went on to thank the members of the diaspora for their active involvement in the life of Moldova, in the development activities of local communities and in the development activities of the country. “Thank you for participating in the Diaspora Congress year after year. There are two days of discussions with the ministers, with the heads of state agencies, and please do offer your inputs so that we can better understand the problems you are facing and discuss the most suitable solutions for these problems”, said Maia Sandu.
Nicu Popescu, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, noted that the participants in the 10th Diaspora Congress gathered to discuss the role of the Moldovan diaspora in the development and consolidation of Moldova. “Today we are at a crucial moment in the history of the Republic of Moldova. Over the past year, in particular, we managed to take firm steps towards joining the European Union. And now, as of late, joining the EU is no longer just a dream and an aspiration, but also a mission that we are pursuing together through a set of common steps”, declared Nicu Popescu.
During the Congress, several panels will be organized to discuss cooperation between state institutions and diaspora representatives that bring expertise and added value in different fields. Innovative solutions for facilitating the return and reintegration of migrants will also be discussed, among other issues.
Additionally, the Congress is expected to produce two memorandums of cooperation between the State Chancellery and the Alliance of Native Associations, and also between the State Chancellery and the Department for Romanians Everywhere.
The 10th Diaspora Congress is taking place as part of the Diaspora Days on August 18 and 19. On Saturday, entrepreneurs are expected at the Digital Park to participate in the Diaspora Business Forum, where they will discover economic trends and investment opportunities in the Republic of Moldova. The Diaspora Days will culminate with a theatrical performance at the Chisinau Train Station.
The event takes place with the support of the Policy Advisory Fund Project, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by GIZ Moldova.
