Diaspora Forum

Back to the Roots 

Diaspora Forum, in this issue of the Newsletter will introduce you to the German national of Ethiopian origin, Professor Dr. Girma A.Ghebresillasie.

            Professor Girma left for Germany in his early childhood.  He is the grandson of Lij Iyasu, the grandson of Menelik II.  He took his Godfather's name for a surname.  His real name was Girma Yohannes Iyasu.

            Professor Girma did all his schooling in Germany and Britain.  He has been a professor and a researcher at the University of Bremen in Germany. 

             A few years back, Professor Girma came to Ethiopia, but it wasn't directly to engage in investment activities or stay here.  His first trip here was for the event marking the centennial anniversary  of  the  Victory  of  Adwa in  1996.  The real chance for him came in 1998 when the founder of Menschen fur Menschen Foundation, Dr. Karl Heinz Boehm asked him to go to Ethiopia and engage in some business.

            "Why don't you go to Ethiopia and help in establishing a college, a school or do things like that?"  Boehm asked me, recalls professor Girma.  Dr. Karl Heinz promised the professor that he would raise the money.

            Eventually, he came to Ethiopia and visited Karl Heinz's projects.  What the white man has done in helping Ethiopians struck Girma.  He was highly impressed by what the philanthropist has done.  "What about me?"  "I seriously questioned myself", says professor Girma.  At that time the Professor was supposed to leave for the USA.   There, he had a chance to teach at the University of Miami.  But he couldn't suppress the strong desire to come to Ethiopia.  He just cancelled his trip to the US and settled for what his country offerred.

            Immediately he took over as a director for the Harar Menschen fur Menschen Agro-Technical Training College.   Suffice it, Girma wouldn't say.   He began to think of other investment areas and established his own company, Bolts and Nuts factory.  With other 6 Germans in a joint venture scheme he is also undertaking the construction of a technical college in Diredawa with an outlay of 40 million birr.

            To add to that, Professor Girma has a company engaged in import and export activities.

            His projects have so far hired 35 people.   He envisages hundred more new jobs in the near future.

            Professor Girma commends the support the government has extended to him in all his investment activities. 

            "I had a very nice support.  I enjoyed the support and encouragement of the government.  I got a license within a very short-time".  This was not all says Professor Girma; "I am a German National.  But by virtue of my Ethiopian origin I have been given a federal ID card like any other Ethiopian.  I am treated equal to an Ethiopian."  According to Professor Girma duty free rights, which are given to Ethiopian nationals and foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin deserve appreciation. 

        Such measures and encouragements by the government could definitely attract more expatriate Ethiopians highly attached to their roots, the communities where they grew up.