A delegation from the Association of Egyptians in Europe is recently visiting the homeland to discuss with officials means and ways of further steps and measure to further maintain and strengthen ties with the motherland. While commending the recent step taken by the government allowing Egyptians abroad to vote in presidential elections, the head of the delegation, Esam Abdulsamad, emphatically appealed for some form of representation of Egyptians abroad in the legislative chambers: the Shura Council and the House of Deputies, through the allocation of a proportional number of seats, initially by appointment until an appropriate mechanism could be introduced. The appeal seems logical enough as there are some 8 million Egyptians are living and working abroad and, and if positively responded to, would certainly inject fresh vitality into Egypt's staggering economy as Egyptians abroad are, and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with. And unless effective measures are taken by the government to seriously invest in the truly patriotic and often over-patriotic passions of Egyptians abroad, their ties with the homeland might not remain sheer nostalgia, or love without duty-a theme for songs and novels . On their part, Egyptians abroad have done a lot to strengthen their ties with the homeland, especially as a second generation is already rising in the host countries among fears of young Egyptians growing differently in different parts of the world. Among the outstanding initiatives taken by Egyptians abroad is the establishment of Egyptians Abroad for Investment & Development, It is an effective mechanism to attract, and protect the savings of Egyptians abroad, and a successful model of investment that enhancing the wealth of the sons of Egypt abroad and directing this wealth in the development of their motherland, the company was founded in 1984 with a contribution of the big four governmental banks in Egypt. The number of individual shareholders reached about 3100 shareholders; most of them are Egyptian communities abroad, representing some of the businessmen and Egyptian scientists abroad, and some companies and institutional investors. As the Egyptian government was planning to privatize the joint companies in 1997, so the government sold the four banks' share in the capital of the company to a group of Egyptian businessmen abroad. The number of shareholders of the company currently exceeds twenty thousand shareholders. Another example is Egyptians Without Boarders, a not-for-profit organisation that was established on February 11, 2011. Its objective is to provide a bridge of support from Egyptians abroad to their motherland. After the January 25th Revolution, Egyptians around the world felt proud again. They are passionate about the need to support Egypt to help rebuild its economy. Egyptians Without Boarders has sent an appeal by email to Egyptians abroad inviting them to join and offered some specific ideas for them to support Egypt. Since hundreds of Egyptians joined it and offered many more of their own ideas and expertise.
