WA has set the pace for permanent residency business migration for the first quarter of this financial year, attracting 32 per cent of all arrivals.
The State overtook the traditional business migration leader, New South Wales, which attracted 24 per cent, according to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
From July to September, WA attracted 102 permanent residency business migrants – 58 of whom came in September.
Small Business Development Corporation managing director George Etrelezis said business migration was good for WA’s economy.
“Based on figures provided by DIMA these migrants will, within three years, inject about $166 million of new investment into the State,” Mr Etrelezis said.
WA is most popular with Indonesians, South Africans, Singaporeans and Malaysians.
Immigration consultancy CEC director Peter Edwards said part of the jump in business migration could be due to the work of a centre set up in Perth to process Indonesia business migration visas starting to bear fruit.
There has been a considerable backlog created in business migration visas from Indonesia since 1998-99.
“About 95 per cent of the Indonesian business migrants come to WA,” Mr Edwards said.
