A workshop on “Remittance for Community Development and Financial Literacy” will be held on Saturday, 03 October 2015 in Bonn, Germany. The program will start at 10:30 with registration and end at 16:00.

The workshop is a part of the Project titled, “Publications and Literacy Program on Development Policy for the Bangladeshi Expatriates”. BASUG with the support from the German development organisation Environment and Development North Rhine-Westphalia (SUE-NRW) is implementing this project.

BASUG Diaspora and Development e.V. (www.basug.eu), a Europe-based Diaspora organization has been working on important issues on migration and Development, proper utilization of remittance, gender and social compliances in Ready Made Garment sector.  It has been working in Bangladeshi communities in European countries including Germany, the Netherlands, UK, Italy and works also in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well for last few years.

The main objectives of the training are to enhance formal channel of remittances transfer; equip remittance senders with adequate knowledge and skill on how to identify their financial position, define their financial goals, familiarise them with different financial products including productive investment opportunities in small and medium social enterprises back at home. The project has already developed financial literacy training module and a documentary film which will also be shown on the day on financial literacy. The workshop will also attempt to harness the imagination of the migrant groups and local communities alike with a range of possible concrete projects in sectors that could make a significant contribution to local development such as water purification, solar energy, cold storage, fisheries etc and stimulate local entrepreneurship including women, with the support of the Diasporas.

On this occasion, BASUG will also launch the BASUG website in German version. This will open a new page and world for BASUG, which has so long the website in English language only.The German version of the Website will help us reach the mainstream German community members. The information that we shall shall put on our website will focus, mainly on positive aspects of migration and the contribution that the Diasporas/migrants contribute to the development not only of their countries of orgin, but also to the countries of destination.

The Deputy Mayor (Bürgermeisterin) of Bonn, Ms. Gabriele Klingmüller will attend the program as chief guest, while Commercial Counsellor of Bangladesh Embassy in Germany, Mr. Dr Syed Masum Ahmed Choudhury will be the special guest.  Project Consultant of Foundation Environment and Development North Rhine-Westphalia (SUE-NRW), Mr. Wilson Budde-Iser will attend the program as guest of honour, while Mr Bikash Chowdhury Barua, Chairman, BASUG HQ, the Netherlands will chair the opening session. The research report on the existing practices and the financial literacy of the Bangladeshi expatriates living in NRW will be presented by AHM Abdul Hai, Project Coordinator of BASUG Germany.

In the panel discussion, Dr. M. M. Islam, Senior Researcher, Bonn University and Secretary, BASUG e.V. Germany will present the key-note paper on “Migration and Remittances for Sustainable Development: Context of Bangladesh”, Mr Md Anowarul Kabir, President of German -Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries will present paper on Socio-Economic Development of Bangladesh: Responsibilities and Challenges for NRBs and Dr. Corazon Dee, Senior Expert of PUM Netherlands and Chairperson of ERCMOVE/EPIC will discuss different aspects of remittance for development projects and financial literacy, while Mr Dr Ahmed Ziauddin, President of BASUG e.V. will moderate the session.

Different stakeholders including development and civil society organisations, policy makers and Bangladeshi migrant community members are expected to attend the program.