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IMMIGRATION, INTEGRATION: HOW ABOUT THIS?
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
IMMIGRATION, INTEGRATION: HOW ABOUT THIS?
There was a time when I got e-mails suggesting that European governments should pay all Muslim immigrants an amount of money sufficient enough to get them to move back to their country of origin. A buy-out literally, but one that is not only impossible to implement and somewhat morally abject, one that is also economically dangerous. The Dutch economy for instance would grind to a halt if some 7% of the population: (a) wrecked the national budget by cashing in on these 'go home bonuses' and (b) all decided to go leave instantly. Yet, there are some that actually go voluntarily and maybe they are discovering ways to bring the benefits and opportunities of free trading democracies to stagnant Arab economies. Consider this: Mimoun a young Moroccan entrepreneur from The Netherlands wants to start a cookies factory back in Morocco. By emigrating to Morocco he plans to start a new life.These well-integrated second-generation immigrants are probably the one group that Europe does not want to lose as they can be instrumental in helping the rest of their ethnic and religious group make that important transition. Still, if they are able create economic opportunity in countries like Morocco, they may prove themselves to be as valuable there as they could have been back in their adopted home country. NOTE: I translated ‘stroopwafels’ as ‘cookies’ but those of you familiar with this Dutch delicacy will know that is not correct. There is no English word for it, 'syrup waffles' is probably the best one, but think of it as two thinly baked pieces of dough which are glued together by a thin layer of molasses or syrup. I used to buy them at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on my way back to London and Hong Kong and they were an instant hit with foreign colleagues who thought it was a unique delicacy. Well, it is up to Mimoun to prove that he can unleash the same excitement in Morocco and turn it into a profitable venture. 
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