Surpassing China and Britain, India has become the largest source of permanent migrants for Australia.
“India has surpassed China and the UK as the largest source of permanent migrants with 25,509 and 25,274 places respectively,” Australia’s High Commissioner Peter Varghese said in a press statement issued in New Delhi on July 21, 2012.
“Indian migrants accounted for 29,018 places (15.7%) of the total of 185,000 places under the 2011-12 Permanent Migration Programme,” he added.
Commenting on the figures, Australia’s Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Bowen said, “The Indian community has made a valuable contribution to economic, social and cultural life in Australia, and I know that this will continue with more Indians choosing our country to make their home.”
According to Mr Varghese, seven of the top 10 sources countries in Australia’s 2011-12 Migration Programme are from Asia, including India, China, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam.
“Skilled migration accounted for over two-thirds of our migration programme, with a 2011-12 skill stream outcome of 125,755 places,” Mr Varghese said.
-India Abroad News Service
