Business
African expatriates increasingly becoming competitive
African expatriates network at an event. PHOTO/Courtesy CNN
In a trend that may work adversely on remittances to India and the region, Gulf nations are now increasingly hiring Africans over Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Nepalis, a move that can slow down the migration boom from the Indian subcontinent since the early 1990s.
“Migration from Africa to the Gulf region will increase significantly in coming years,” said Dilip Ratha, an expert on migration and remittance issues with the World Bank. Africans are giving tough competition to expatriates from other parts of the world.
“African governments are also strengthening their ties with the Gulf states and pushing for liberal labour laws,” said the expert, who is otherwise based out of the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington.