170 likes | 308 Views
Transnational Entrepreneurs: Presentation to IDRC Unleashing Entrepreneurship Conference April 8, 2005. Carlo Dade, Senior Advisor Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL). Transnationalism a profound shift in development. Migration as the Human Face of Globalisation Hyper-migration
E N D
Transnational Entrepreneurs:Presentation to IDRCUnleashing Entrepreneurship Conference April 8, 2005 Carlo Dade, Senior Advisor Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL)
Transnationalism a profound shift in development Migration as the Human Face of Globalisation Hyper-migration Difference today is • Trade • Travel • Telecommunications • Transfers
Evidence of Shift Domestic Diaspora Population Population % Jamaica 2.6 2.6 100% Haiti 7.6 4 52% Guyana 0.7 1 143% Mexico 104 30 28%
Evidence of the Shift “Particularly in the case of South Asia, there is a striking disjuncture between huge migration flows and very limited economic links.” “Asian Canadians and Canada’s Foreign Policy”. Asia Pacific Foundation. 2003.
Beyond Remittances • Remittances are more than money. • Indication of deeper, wider, more dynamic exchange within communities. • These exchanges and actors are crucial to effective, relevant development work. • Redefine communities in which we work and how we work in/with them. • How to respond to new reality, new demands, new possibilities, new partners.
Transnationalism a profound shift in development As a result: Transnational communities • dispersed geographically • but • united by culture, language, economics. • Resources, knowledge and ideas are shared within community at speed of modern business • geography and national borders close to irrelevant. Leads to Transnational Markets, Entrepreneurs
The Response Transnational Enterprises • Response to new opportunities of globalization • Response to lower cost and greater availability of technologies of trade • Response to existence of multi-stranded and deep cultural, national, ethnic ties. Old and New phenomenon?
Types of Transnational Enterprise Ethnic enterprises Circuit firms Cultural enterprises Return migrant enterprises: Also includes franchises
Importance for PSD Destination Country –Canada, US, UK • Economic prospects of immigrants depend on host-country labour market AND self-employment opportunities • Immigrant entrepreneurs do better economically than their waged co-ethnics(Portes and Zhou 1999; Logan, Alba, and McNulty 1994; Wilson and Martin 1982).
Importance for PSD Home Country – China, India, Philippines, Jamaica, Haiti • Access to new capital • Access to new (more profitable) markets • Which is larger, population of Canada or population of Mexicans in US? • Access to new technologies/ideas
Importance for PSD • Some sectors of economy increasingly dependent on Diaspora • home construction, DR • investment, China • services, everywhere Requires re-thinking PSD development strategies in areas of high emigration or migration and especially in these sectors.
Activities Linking Immigrants to Home Country Source: Portes, Haller and Guarnizo 2001.
US vs. Canada “Particularly in the case of South Asia, there is a striking disjuncture between huge migration flows and very limited economic links.” “Asian Canadians and Canada’s Foreign Policy”. Asia Pacific Foundation. 2003.
Research Issues • US-Canada immigration and trade linkage discrepancy. • Survey transnational economic activity by immigrants in Canada. • Map ICT usage by transnational entrepreneurs. • Catalogue Diaspora projects receiving and sending countries.
Policy Issues • Rationalize domestic and foreign business support services to reflect transnational reality. • Examine aid and trade agreements to find hindrances and missed opportunities. • International cooperation.
MDGs References to Diaspora linkages in Martin-Zedillo report Problematic • Too brief and general, need focused research and best practice recommendations • Recommendation in Chapter 5, Bad Idea “Innovative schemes are also needed to transform financial flows from the many diasporas into long-term productive investment in their home countries.” But report hints at importance of Diaspora linkages • Discussion of PSD incomplete without this • Success of PSD programmes doubtful without this