BY NEW BUSINESS ETHIOPIA REPORTER
The 7th edition of the Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum and the 2nd Pioneer Diaspora Awards Dinner, will be held on July 14, 2012 at the George Washington University’s Jack Morton Auditorium and the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington DC, respectively, the organizers announced.
It is Organized annually by The Ethiopian American, an Ethiopian Diaspora business and investment group. The 2012 Pioneer Ethiopian Diaspora Business Person award will be shared by two dynamic members of the Ethiopian Diaspora business community: Tadiwos Getachew, founder and CEO of Boston Partners PLC, and Ato Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Ethiopia & Head of Transaction Advisory Services (Corporate Finance) Eastern Africa Ernst & Young LLP.
Both individuals embody the meaning of a pioneer. As pioneer business men, Ato Zemedeneh and Tadios introduced innovation in to their respective business areas and took risks in untested business at the time of entry in Ethiopia. Both have been good role models and have inspired other Diaspora businessmen to take risk and introduce innovation.
The 7th Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum will focus on innovation in business and investment. Specifically, the Forum will discuss ICT revolution in Ethiopia, Innovation and Investment in the Hospitality Industry and Finding Innovative Financing Solutions to Investments in Ethiopia.
The Forum will organize a job fair in association with Info Mind Solutions, which runs EthioJobs.com and provides employment related services in Ethiopia and around Africa. The Forum, Awards Dinner and Job Fair are expected to attract hundreds of Ethiopians, and non-Ethiopians, interested in Ethiopian Diaspora business and investment opportunities in Ethiopian and the U.S.
“The Forum and Awards Dinner will once again attempt to show case the contribution of the Ethiopian Diaspora to business and investment in the growing trade relationship between the United States and Ethiopia,” said Yohannes Assefa, Managing Director of The Ethiopian American and Founder and Executive Director of the Forum.
This year’s Awards Dinner keynote speaker will be Mr. Thomas Debass, Director for Global Partnerships in the Office of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Mr. Debass is responsible for coordinating the State Department’s Diaspora engagement efforts. Other speakers will include, Hon. Vincent C. Gray, Mayor of DC and Congressmen Bobby Rush.
The Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum is organized by The Ethiopian American, a Virginia based Ethiopian Diaspora business and investment group with offices in New York. The Ethiopian American was first established as non-partisan, professional business publication in 2004 by a group of young Diaspora professionals to create a positive and non-political platform devoted to the issue of business and investment in the Ethiopian Diaspora community.
In June 2005, the magazine organized the first Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum (the “Forum”) with the generous financial support of USAID/VEGA Ethiopian AGOA + and several Diaspora businesses. Over the years, the Forum served as a key platform for Diaspora discussions on many important issues such as trade and investment in Ethiopia and the United States, the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), business environment and related regulatory affairs. Seven years later, the Forum has grown and continues to grow strong in every aspect by empowering the Diaspora business community with valuable information and enabling the community to participate in Ethiopia’s economy and development in a meaningful way.
This year, organizers are publishing the second annual full length event magazine covering many issues of interest for the Diaspora business community. The magazine will be distributed for free both in the U.S. and Ethiopia.
