Government officials, parliamentarians, experts as well as NGO
representatives from both developing and industrialized countries
are today meeting in Vienna to discuss the potential of diaspora
communities in contributing to coherent policies maximizing the
development potential of migration.

The meeting is being held under the auspices of the Austrian
Foreign Minister, Ursula Plassnik, and has been organized by
various international stakeholders with a presence in Vienna who
have come together to form the Vienna Migration Group. It aims to
further the existing dialogue on the nexus between migration and
development and to support efforts to find more effective
approaches such as next year's Global Forum on Migration and
Development, to be hosted by the Philippines.

Particular focus during the discussion is being given to IOM's
Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA) programme, funded by
various European Union countries, which helps to mobilize
competencies acquired by African nationals abroad for the benefit
of Africa's development through skills transfer or business
investment. Currently the programme is being implemented in the
Great Lakes region, Ghana and Senegal.

Speakers include Armand de Decker, Belgium's former Minister of
Development Cooperation, Esteban B. Conejos Jr., the Philippines'
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, and IOM
Deputy Director General, Ndioro Ndiaye.

For further information, please contact:

David Reisenzein

IOM Vienna

Tel: +43(0)664 910 87 93

E-mail: "mailto:dreisenzein@iom.int">dreisenzein@iom.int