Opening segment

Welcoming remarks by the co-facilitators

• H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations
• H.E. Mr. Juan José Gómez Camacho, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations

Remarks by Ms. Louise Arbour, Secretary-General of the intergovernmental conference

PANEL 1: Contributions of migrants to all dimensions of sustainable development: the linkages between migration and development

As Member States agreed to a number of migration-related commitments and targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this panel will provide an overview of the links between migration and development. It will highlight practical means of fostering the economic and social benefits of migration, including through the mainstreaming of migration into development policies and enhancing cooperation within and amongst states. This mainstreaming process would be based on whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, including through meaningful participation of all relevant stakeholders. The session will also examine those barriers limiting positive development contributions, and discuss innovative policies and measures to enhance such contributions including through the commitments made in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

• Mr. Gibril Faal, Interim Executive Director of the Africa-Europe Diaspora Development Platform (ADEPT)
• Ms. Melissa Siegel, Professor of Migration Studies and Head of Migration Studies at the Maastricht Graduate School of Governance
• Mr. Najim Azahaf, Senior Project Manager, Bertelsmann Stiftung

Moderator: H. E. Mr. Hisham Badr, Ambassador, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Affairs and International Security of the Arab Republic of Egypt

PANEL 2: Contributions of migrants and diaspora to all dimensions of sustainable development: enabling frameworks for contributions

This panel will focus on the multiple aspects and concrete contributions of migrants and diasporas to sustainable development. It will examine the key elements of enabling frameworks in countries of origin and destination to encourage and maximize such contributions. These elements include incentives to invest, diaspora bonds, support to migrant entrepreneurs, skills development and circulation, political participation of migrants, and social remittances. During this session, both economic and social contributions of migrants and diasporas will be explored including on how they can impact social inequalities.

• Ms. Estrella Mai Dizon-Anonuevo, Executive Director, Atikha Overseas Workers and Communities Initiative Inc
• Mr. Manuel Orozco, Senior fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue and the Director of the Migration, Remittances and Development Program
• Mr. Issayas Tesfamariam, Lecturer at the African and Middle Eastern Languages at Stanford University

Moderator: H.E. Ms. Maleeha Lodhi, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations

Welcoming remarks by the co-facilitators

• H.E. Mr. Juan José Gómez Camacho, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations
• H.E. Mr. Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations

PANEL 3: Remittances and portability of earned benefits

TThis panel will provide a concrete discussion on key economic and financial dimensions of migration and development, including remittances. The panel will highlight ways to reduce the transfer costs associated with migrant remittances as well as ways to maximize the impact of remittances on sustainable development, including through enhancing the financial literacy and inclusion of remittance recipients and their families. The portability of such benefits will also be highlighted, including ways in which to ensure such measures through various types of bilateral or multilateral agreements.

• Mr. Leon Isaacs, Joint-Chief Executive Officer, Developing Markets Associates (DMA)
• Mr. Oscar A. Chacón, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Alianza Americas
• Ms. Claire Scharwatt, Senior Advocacy & Policy Manager for the Mobile Money Programme, Mobile Money of Groupe Spéciale Mobile Association (GSMA)

Moderator: H.E. Mr. Amanuel Giorgio, Ambassador, charge d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the United Nations

SUMMARY PANEL: Synopsis of the main conclusions and outcomes

• Moderators present the key recommendations resulting from their panels
  • Egypt (panel 1)
• Ms. Marta Foresti, Managing Director, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), thematic expert provides a short overview of the main discussions and the interlinkages between the panels
• Interactive exchange between the moderators, the thematic expert and Member States on the outcomes of the session