Australia's intake of skilled or professional migrants in the year 2002-2003 almost doubled over 1998-1999, official figures show.

Australia attracted more than 36,000 skilled or professional migrants to Australia in 2002-2003, compared with 24,130 in 1998-1999, according to a report of Australia's Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) published Friday.

Australia's skilled migration program allows people to come to Australia and contribute in a real way to the future growth of thecountry, said a DIMIA spokesperson.

"These people will be an increasingly valuable asset in the future growth of Australia," said the spokesperson in a statement.

The report also shows that nearly 9,000 overseas students in Australia became skilled migrants, and the number of qualified migrants with PhDs coming to Australia and Australian residents returning from overseas with PhDs exceeded the number of qualifiedpeople leaving Australia between 1996 and 2001.

This indicates that skilled and professional people overseas regard Australia as a place of opportunity, said the spokesperson.

The figures demonstrate the effectiveness of Australia's migration program in attracting and retaining skilled and professional people, who will add not only to Australia's professional capacity, but also to its multicultural diversity, added the spokesperson.

Source: Xinhua