<h3 dir="ltr">Introduction</h3>
Established in September 2015, the Egyptian Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs (MoSEEA) manages the affairs of Egyptians abroad to support Egyptian communities in their various countries of destination. To that end, the MoSEEA is responsible for overseeing the interests of Egyptians residing outside the nation's borders, operating within a framework of collaboration with various ministries, authorities, and organizations, and acting as the primary channel of communication with the expatriates&rsquo; community. The MoSEEA also works to enhance international cooperation through coordinating with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as other bodies concerned with migration policy. The MoSEEA strategically aligns its initiatives with the objectives of Egypt&rsquo;s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to foster economic and human development by enhancing the contributions of Egyptians living abroad towards the establishment of an innovative and knowledge-driven society at home.&nbsp;
<h3>&nbsp;The role of expat in Egypt&rsquo;s development</h3>
According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), as of 2023, the total number of Egyptians abroad has reached more than 14 million with the highest number of expats being in Gulf Cooperation (GCC) countries followed by North America and Europe. In addition, Egypt ranked sixth among nations that received remittances worldwide. It ranked after India, Mexico, China, the Philippines, and France based on recent World Bank data. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) stated that during the first nine months of 2024 (January&ndash;September), remittances from Egyptians recorded a total of over USD 20.8 billion aiding in Egypt&rsquo;s current dire need for foreign currency. Nonetheless, the role of the Egyptian expat can go far more beyond only remittances.&nbsp;
&nbsp;In September 2024, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) convened in Cabo Verde for the&nbsp; International Conference on the Future Agenda of Action for Global Expat&nbsp; Engagement. One of the most notable outcomes of this conference was the launching of the Global Expat Policy Alliance (GDPA) which will serve as &ldquo;a platform to cultivate an inclusive ecosystem of collaboration across governments and stakeholders, empowering expats to contribute fully to sustainable development&rdquo;.&nbsp; This conference marked a significant milestone in the global landscape of expat engagement, building on and adopting the Dublin Declaration of 2022 which is &ldquo;a comprehensive plan of action aiming to institutionalize and operationalize expat capitals across policies, programs, and partnerships within a coherent framework&rdquo;. Egypt has supported the terms of the Dublin Declaration, and as a party to the African Union, Egypt has also approved the GDPA&rsquo;s Terms of Reference. The Egyptian government would benefit from incorporating some of the expat engagement strategies proposed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The IOM defines expats as &ldquo;migrants or descendants of migrants, whose identity and sense of belonging have been shaped by their migration experience and background&rdquo; (IOM Glossary on Migration, 2019). Recently, international organizations have been actively expressing increasing interest in mobilizing expat engagement strategies. These strategies do not only aim to attract the financial capital of expat&nbsp; communities, but also to galvanize the value of human capital. Enhancing the mechanisms with which emigrants can contribute to the country&rsquo;s development efforts can be a lucrative way to address the ongoing brain drain challenges. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development explicitly acknowledged the contributions of emigrants in promoting economic growth and sustainable development in their home countries, and therefore called for lowering transaction costs for remittances. Furthermore, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, an intergovernmental agreement under the auspices of the United Nations, called for participatory approaches from State and non-state actors to enhance the conditions for migrants to actively contribute to sustainable development in countries of origin, transit and destination in its 19th objective.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Challenges facing Egyptian expat engagement</h3>
Expat engagement institutions play a crucial role in shaping the relationship between sending countries and their expatriates. Although the MoSSEA is relatively new, it has successfully established multiple cooperation agreements with host countries, particularly emphasizing cross-border skill recognition of skills and facilitating the reintegration of returning migrants into the labor market with entrepreneurial ventures in Egypt. The Egyptian Sustainable Development Strategy (Egypt Vision 2030) identifies the expat as a vital element in the nation&rsquo;s developmental trajectory. In 2021, the MoSSEA initiated the development of a &ldquo;National Strategy on Expatriates&rsquo; Engagement&rdquo; in partnership with the IOM.
In an effort to remedy the current currency crisis and ease the inflow process of remittances, Egypt has authorized state-owned banks to introduce bank accounts denominated in US dollars. Over the past ten years, the Egyptian government has frequently utilized expat bonds for significant investment initiatives. However, the financial outcomes of such initiatives have been varied. The country has also started issuing bonds denominated in foreign currencies. Additionally, the National Bank of Egypt provides a ten-year tax exemption on overseas cash transfers designated for registered activities. However, it appears that these initiatives are still hindered by expatriates' lack of trust in national institutions and the banking system (McLean, 2024). While these initiatives represent a positive step forward in engaging the Egyptian expat, government efforts should address more than the financial angle.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Brain drain and the loss of human capital</h3>
One of the main concerns of emigration is brain drain which is a negative externality of migration for developing countries that are in dire need of human capital and expertise to boost their development. For example, the movement of doctors from low-and middle-income (LMIC) to high-income (HIC) nations poses a significant threat to the quality and sustainability of health systems in LMICs, including Egypt. Factors such as the substantial costs associated with medical training, workforce attrition, migration, and the increasing health demands of populations contribute to the strain on healthcare personnel. Despite the annual graduation of thousands of medical students, Egypt faces a shortage of physicians. Kabbash et al conducted a study in 2021 to explore the reasons prompting young doctors and medical students in Egypt to emigrate through utilizing a questionnaire to resident doctors, fifth- and sixth-year medical students from Tanta and Kafr Elshiekh medical universities to collect data regarding sociodemographic information, aspirations for emigration, and the underlying motivations for such decisions. The findings of their study revealed that most participants wanted to leave Egypt because they felt their income did not match their risks or working hours, and merely 4.9% of those surveyed stated that they feel appreciated by the country. Other reasons that were mentioned included being unhappy with their interactions with patients or coworkers, physical assault and verbal abuse. However, 81% of those who expressed a desire to emigrate stated that they would change their minds if there were changes in the health sector. Egyptian doctors relocate overseas in pursuit of better job prospects and financial compensation. Therefore, the formation of a retention program is necessary to prevent Egyptian physicians from emigrating.&nbsp;
&nbsp;The Egyptian Economic Vision 2030 aspires to reshape the economy into a society that prioritizes creativity and innovation in the fields of science, technology, and knowledge by the year 2030. The vision aligns innovation and knowledge development with national objectives, focusing on research and knowledge institutions, particularly scientists and skilled professionals. However, the emigration of Egyptian talent poses significant challenges to achieving these goals (Abdelbaki, 2019). The loss of productivity resulting from the emigration of skilled professionals calls for a need to capitalize on the knowledge and skills transfer back to Egypt. Government strategies should thus also focus on brain circulation to transfer the skills and knowledge of migrants back to the origin country to address the problem of brain drain and lost human capital.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Expat expertise for national development</h3>
Countries can leverage the expertise and knowledge of their expat communities by fostering and sustaining cross-border connections, whether through informal networks or structured programs. Three primary categories of governmental strategies have been identified by the IOM to facilitate the transfer of human capital. These include strategies: 1) aimed at addressing critical gaps in resources and knowledge through the return of migrants on a permanent, temporary, or virtual basis, 2) designed to engage expat communities as collaborative partners through sustained exchanges of resources and knowledge, and 3) focused on the establishment or support of scientific, technical, and business networks that can enhance research, business, and investment prospects in the home country (Agunias and Newland, 2012).&nbsp;
&nbsp;These strategies can be formulated at bilateral, multilateral, or regional levels and should encompass interregional and internal migration, along with short-term and circular migration. Efforts should be intensified to enhance the involvement of expat members in shaping migration and development policies, as well as political processes in order to foster a sense of ownership and ensure the stability and continuity of the implemented measures (Sch&ouml;fberger, 2020). Some of the challenges that governments face in developing countries, including Egypt, when trying to engage their expat are related to awareness and effective communication channels.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;Recently, Egypt's strategy regarding its expat is increasingly aligning with the capabilities of its emigrants' human capital. The MoSEEA has launched a 'Science Hub' aimed at facilitating the exchange of skills and knowledge through its e-service portal for expatriates. Furthermore, the ministry is actively organizing the "Conference of Egyptian Entities Abroad," which advocates for the participation of the expat in national infrastructure initiatives, encompassing sectors such as civil services, education, and insurance. This initiative provides a valuable opportunity for skilled Egyptian migrants to contribute their expertise to various projects, particularly in the absence of established knowledge exchange frameworks (McLean, 2024). However, this initiative did not harbor enough publicity and follow through in implementation so far.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h3>
Promoting expat engagement needs to be carried out through establishing a genuine two-way working relationship between expat communities and the government in order to utilize Egypt&rsquo;s soft power in development cooperation. The Egyptian expat will be able to make an impact by integrating migration into development planning and sectoral policies at the various levels of governance. Additionally, building trust and improving perceptions will encourage expat leaders and organizations to engage meaningfully with Egyptian institutions.
<hr>
References
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Abdelbaki, H. H. (2019). The Egyptian Brain Drain and The Economic Vision 2030. Retrieved from</li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3359128">http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3359128</a></li>
<li dir="ltr">Agunias, D. R., and Newland, K. (2012). Developing a road map for engaging diasporas in development. Retrieved from <a href="https://publications.iom.int/books/developing-road-map-engaging-diasporas-development-handbook-policymakers-and-practitioners">https://publications.iom.int/books/developing-road-map-engaging-diasporas-development-handbook-policymakers-and-practitioners</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). (2024). Remittances from Egyptians Abroad Recorded USD 20.8 Billion during January / September 2024. Retrieved from <a href="https://shorturl.at/au90M">https://shorturl.at/au90M</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">iDiaspora. (2024). International Conference: Future Agenda of Action for Global Diaspora Engagement. Retrieved from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.idiaspora.org/en/event-calendar/international-conference-future-agenda-action-global-diaspora-engagement#:~:text=This%20summit%2C%20marking%20a%20significant,partnerships%20within%20a%20coherent%20framework">https://www.idiaspora.org/en/event-calendar/international-conference-future-agenda-action-global-diaspora-engagement#:~:text=This%20summit%2C%20marking%20a%20significant,partnerships%20within%20a%20coherent%20framework</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">International Organization of Migration (IOM). Glossary on Migration. Retrieved from <a href="https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/iml_34_glossary.pdf">https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/iml_34_glossary.pdf</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>&nbsp;International Organization for Migration (IOM). (2024). International Conference on the Future Agenda of Action for Global Diaspora Engagement. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.iom.int/future-agenda-action-global-diaspora-engagement">https://www.iom.int/future-agenda-action-global-diaspora-engagement</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">International Organization for Migration (IOM). Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Retrieved from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iom.int/global-compact-migration">https://www.iom.int/global-compact-migration</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li>&nbsp;Kabbash, I., El-Sallamy, R., Zayed, H., Alkhyate, I., Omar, A., &amp; Abdo, S. (2021). The brain drain: why medical students and young physicians want to leave Egypt.&nbsp;Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal,&nbsp;27(11). Retrieved from <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.26719/emhj.21.050">10.26719/emhj.21.050</a></li>
<li>&nbsp;McLean, A. (2024). Diaspora Engagement Frameworks in the Middle East and North Africa: A Review. ICMPD. Vienna. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.icmpd.org/file/download/60834/file/EMM5_Diaspora_engagement_EN.pdf">https://www.icmpd.org/file/download/60834/file/EMM5_Diaspora_engagement_EN.pdf</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs (MoSEEA). Retrieved from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.emigration.gov.eg/DefaultAr/Pages/default.aspx">https://www.emigration.gov.eg/DefaultAr/Pages/default.aspx</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">Sch&ouml;fberger, I. (2020). Diaspora and development policies in the Economic Community of West African States. West and North Africa and Across the Mediterranean: Trends, risks, development and governance. Geneva: IOM, 383-393. Retrieved from <a href="https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/ch33-diaspora-and-development-policies.pdf">https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/ch33-diaspora-and-development-policies.pdf</a></li>
<li dir="ltr">State Information Service (SIS). (2024). CAPMAS: Egypt ranked world's 6th country on expats' remittances in 2023. Retrieved from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/193250/CAPMAS-Egypt-ranked-world%E2%80%99s-6th-country-on-expats%E2%80%99-remittances-in-2023?lang=en-us">https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/193250/CAPMAS-Egypt-ranked-world%E2%80%99s-6th-country-on-expats%E2%80%99-remittances-in-2023?lang=en-us</a></li>
</ul>

آراء

Commentaries

الهجرة واللجوء