❓ The Minister for Tourism outlines the importance of business migration to WA, highlighting its economic benefits and detailing the government's participation in the Emigrate 2003 exhibition in the UK to attract business migrants.
AnsweredQoN 637Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the comments made by the minister about the importance of business migration and ask what steps the Government has recently taken to promote business migration in Western Australia? Mr C.M. BROWN
AnswerView source ↗
I am pleased to have the opportunity of reporting to the House on this matter, and I thank the member for Geraldton for his question. Business migration is very important to Western Australia. This State ranks second to only New South Wales as the most popular destination for business migration in Australia. The importance of business migration can be demonstrated by a recent report by the federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The report primarily showed that three years after arriving in Australia, some 70 per cent of business migrants had engaged in a business; that each of the new businesses employed 4.3 staff; that - this is the important statistic - some 60 per cent of those businesses had some level of export earnings by comparison with four per cent of Australian companies that have export earnings; that the average funds transferred for a principal migrant were $677 000; and that the average financial investment in their business was some $317 000. This demonstrates the importance to the Western Australian economy of seeking business migrants from a range of countries, and the business acumen and level of financial resources that they bring into this State. Emigrate 2003, which is a business migration exhibition held in the United Kingdom each year, provided an opportunity to all countries - certainly member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - to demonstrate to the business community in the UK the wisdom of making a decision to migrate to those destinations. Exhibitors at Emigrate 2003 came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Interestingly, people must pay to enter this business exhibition and, once in the exhibition, must pay again to attend lectures provided by each country. It may be a surprise to members in this House to learn that some 20 000 people paid to attend this year’s exhibition. The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
Mr C.M. BROWN replied: I am pleased to have the opportunity of reporting to the House on this matter, and I thank the member for Geraldton for his question. Business migration is very important to Western Australia. This State ranks second to only New South Wales as the most popular destination for business migration in Australia. The importance of business migration can be demonstrated by a recent report by the federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The report primarily showed that three years after arriving in Australia, some 70 per cent of business migrants had engaged in a business; that each of the new businesses employed 4.3 staff; that - this is the important statistic - some 60 per cent of those businesses had some level of export earnings by comparison with four per cent of Australian companies that have export earnings; that the average funds transferred for a principal migrant were $677 000; and that the average financial investment in their business was some $317 000. This demonstrates the importance to the Western Australian economy of seeking business migrants from a range of countries, and the business acumen and level of financial resources that they bring into this State. Emigrate 2003, which is a business migration exhibition held in the United Kingdom each year, provided an opportunity to all countries - certainly member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - to demonstrate to the business community in the UK the wisdom of making a decision to migrate to those destinations. Exhibitors at Emigrate 2003 came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Interestingly, people must pay to enter this business exhibition and, once in the exhibition, must pay again to attend lectures provided by each country. It may be a surprise to members in this House to learn that some 20 000 people paid to attend this year’s exhibition. The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
I am pleased to have the opportunity of reporting to the House on this matter, and I thank the member for Geraldton for his question. Business migration is very important to Western Australia. This State ranks second to only New South Wales as the most popular destination for business migration in Australia. The importance of business migration can be demonstrated by a recent report by the federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The report primarily showed that three years after arriving in Australia, some 70 per cent of business migrants had engaged in a business; that each of the new businesses employed 4.3 staff; that - this is the important statistic - some 60 per cent of those businesses had some level of export earnings by comparison with four per cent of Australian companies that have export earnings; that the average funds transferred for a principal migrant were $677 000; and that the average financial investment in their business was some $317 000. This demonstrates the importance to the Western Australian economy of seeking business migrants from a range of countries, and the business acumen and level of financial resources that they bring into this State. Emigrate 2003, which is a business migration exhibition held in the United Kingdom each year, provided an opportunity to all countries - certainly member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - to demonstrate to the business community in the UK the wisdom of making a decision to migrate to those destinations. Exhibitors at Emigrate 2003 came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Interestingly, people must pay to enter this business exhibition and, once in the exhibition, must pay again to attend lectures provided by each country. It may be a surprise to members in this House to learn that some 20 000 people paid to attend this year’s exhibition. The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
Business migration is very important to Western Australia. This State ranks second to only New South Wales as the most popular destination for business migration in Australia. The importance of business migration can be demonstrated by a recent report by the federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The report primarily showed that three years after arriving in Australia, some 70 per cent of business migrants had engaged in a business; that each of the new businesses employed 4.3 staff; that - this is the important statistic - some 60 per cent of those businesses had some level of export earnings by comparison with four per cent of Australian companies that have export earnings; that the average funds transferred for a principal migrant were $677 000; and that the average financial investment in their business was some $317 000. This demonstrates the importance to the Western Australian economy of seeking business migrants from a range of countries, and the business acumen and level of financial resources that they bring into this State. Emigrate 2003, which is a business migration exhibition held in the United Kingdom each year, provided an opportunity to all countries - certainly member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - to demonstrate to the business community in the UK the wisdom of making a decision to migrate to those destinations. Exhibitors at Emigrate 2003 came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Interestingly, people must pay to enter this business exhibition and, once in the exhibition, must pay again to attend lectures provided by each country. It may be a surprise to members in this House to learn that some 20 000 people paid to attend this year’s exhibition. The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
Emigrate 2003, which is a business migration exhibition held in the United Kingdom each year, provided an opportunity to all countries - certainly member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - to demonstrate to the business community in the UK the wisdom of making a decision to migrate to those destinations. Exhibitors at Emigrate 2003 came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Interestingly, people must pay to enter this business exhibition and, once in the exhibition, must pay again to attend lectures provided by each country. It may be a surprise to members in this House to learn that some 20 000 people paid to attend this year’s exhibition. The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
Mr C.M. BROWN replied: I am pleased to have the opportunity of reporting to the House on this matter, and I thank the member for Geraldton for his question. Business migration is very important to Western Australia. This State ranks second to only New South Wales as the most popular destination for business migration in Australia. The importance of business migration can be demonstrated by a recent report by the federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The report primarily showed that three years after arriving in Australia, some 70 per cent of business migrants had engaged in a business; that each of the new businesses employed 4.3 staff; that - this is the important statistic - some 60 per cent of those businesses had some level of export earnings by comparison with four per cent of Australian companies that have export earnings; that the average funds transferred for a principal migrant were $677 000; and that the average financial investment in their business was some $317 000. This demonstrates the importance to the Western Australian economy of seeking business migrants from a range of countries, and the business acumen and level of financial resources that they bring into this State. Emigrate 2003, which is a business migration exhibition held in the United Kingdom each year, provided an opportunity to all countries - certainly member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - to demonstrate to the business community in the UK the wisdom of making a decision to migrate to those destinations. Exhibitors at Emigrate 2003 came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Interestingly, people must pay to enter this business exhibition and, once in the exhibition, must pay again to attend lectures provided by each country. It may be a surprise to members in this House to learn that some 20 000 people paid to attend this year’s exhibition. The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
I am pleased to have the opportunity of reporting to the House on this matter, and I thank the member for Geraldton for his question. Business migration is very important to Western Australia. This State ranks second to only New South Wales as the most popular destination for business migration in Australia. The importance of business migration can be demonstrated by a recent report by the federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The report primarily showed that three years after arriving in Australia, some 70 per cent of business migrants had engaged in a business; that each of the new businesses employed 4.3 staff; that - this is the important statistic - some 60 per cent of those businesses had some level of export earnings by comparison with four per cent of Australian companies that have export earnings; that the average funds transferred for a principal migrant were $677 000; and that the average financial investment in their business was some $317 000. This demonstrates the importance to the Western Australian economy of seeking business migrants from a range of countries, and the business acumen and level of financial resources that they bring into this State. Emigrate 2003, which is a business migration exhibition held in the United Kingdom each year, provided an opportunity to all countries - certainly member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - to demonstrate to the business community in the UK the wisdom of making a decision to migrate to those destinations. Exhibitors at Emigrate 2003 came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Interestingly, people must pay to enter this business exhibition and, once in the exhibition, must pay again to attend lectures provided by each country. It may be a surprise to members in this House to learn that some 20 000 people paid to attend this year’s exhibition. The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
Business migration is very important to Western Australia. This State ranks second to only New South Wales as the most popular destination for business migration in Australia. The importance of business migration can be demonstrated by a recent report by the federal Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The report primarily showed that three years after arriving in Australia, some 70 per cent of business migrants had engaged in a business; that each of the new businesses employed 4.3 staff; that - this is the important statistic - some 60 per cent of those businesses had some level of export earnings by comparison with four per cent of Australian companies that have export earnings; that the average funds transferred for a principal migrant were $677 000; and that the average financial investment in their business was some $317 000. This demonstrates the importance to the Western Australian economy of seeking business migrants from a range of countries, and the business acumen and level of financial resources that they bring into this State. Emigrate 2003, which is a business migration exhibition held in the United Kingdom each year, provided an opportunity to all countries - certainly member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - to demonstrate to the business community in the UK the wisdom of making a decision to migrate to those destinations. Exhibitors at Emigrate 2003 came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Interestingly, people must pay to enter this business exhibition and, once in the exhibition, must pay again to attend lectures provided by each country. It may be a surprise to members in this House to learn that some 20 000 people paid to attend this year’s exhibition. The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
Emigrate 2003, which is a business migration exhibition held in the United Kingdom each year, provided an opportunity to all countries - certainly member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - to demonstrate to the business community in the UK the wisdom of making a decision to migrate to those destinations. Exhibitors at Emigrate 2003 came from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Interestingly, people must pay to enter this business exhibition and, once in the exhibition, must pay again to attend lectures provided by each country. It may be a surprise to members in this House to learn that some 20 000 people paid to attend this year’s exhibition. The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
The Small Business Development Corporation was represented at this year’s exhibition. The corporation had worked with a number of people in the business community to represent Western Australia on a stand at the exhibition. On the Western Australian stand were representatives from the SBDC and the Western Australian branch of the Migration Institute of Australia Ltd, accountants, bankers and business brokers. All the people on the stand, from both government and the private sector, reported a very favourable response from businesspeople in the UK who are looking for opportunities to emigrate to and set up businesses in Australia. During my visit to the exhibition this year, I had the opportunity to meet a couple who are strongly considering setting up a business in Western Australia that would meet their customer requirements in the UK; that is very important indeed. From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
From the exhibition at Emigrate 2003 preliminary indications at this early stage have identified some 48 prospective, qualified business migrants. That may well lead to around $74 million being invested in new businesses in this State. In addition, business migration agents anticipate signing up some 50 or so business clients and 100 people qualified for visa entry in the skilled category who are considering emigrating to Western Australia. This is a very good initiative that has operated with the assistance of the Small Business Development Corporation. It seeks to expand the economic base of small business in Western Australia and has significant employment implications for Western Australia.
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