1 June 2007

A major global research survey has been launched in a bid to understand fully the "who, where and why" of South Africans living abroad - and ultimately to encourage the skills, if not the people, to return to their home country.

Undertaken by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and Homecoming Revolution, a non-profit organisation sponsored by First National Bank, the survey will be the biggest research project to date aimed at South Africans living outside the country.

• Where in the world are you? - complete the online survey and stand a chance of winning two return flights to South Africa.

The government has said that it plans to encourage skilled expatriates to play a part in the socio-economic development of the country of their birth, as part of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for SA (Asgi-SA). The survey intends to gather information crucial to building the database of South African skills required by Asgi-SA.

"Much has been said about South Africans abroad," Homecoming Revolution MD Martine Schaffer said in a statement this week. "We are hoping, however, that this research will give us a good indication of when people left, why they left and the skills that they have.

"This is imperative in continuing to build the nation and engaging with South Africans wherever they are," Schaffer added. "There is much that can be done to assist even without returning, as recently indicated by Education Minister Naledi Pandor."

According to David Viljoen, manager of the DBSA's development information unit, South Africa's skills shortage, particularly in engineering, threatens to retard higher economic growth.

"Our demand for skills has been fuelled by the massive infrastructure spending drive ahead of the 2010 World Cup," Viljoen said.

"The intention of the Asgi-SA skills base is to increase worldwide collaboration, involvement and interest in careers or interventions arising in South Africa that correspond with employment opportunities generated by an economy producing over 500 000 new jobs a year."

SouthAfrica.info reporter

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	Construction boosts SA economy 2010 boost for SA economy SA creates more jobs, better jobs SA to harness expat skills South Africa 'will always be home' Africa 'must engage its diaspora' Expatriates 'still South African' Helping South Africans come home South African communities abroad

	Where in the World Are You?  Homecoming Revolution  Development Bank of Southern Africa

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