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A SPECIALIST migration officer will be appointed in Britain in a bid to boost migrant numbers into South Australia.
The officer, who will operate out of the Agent-General's office in London, will be appointed shortly. The State Government will also join in a programme with Business SA aimed at enticing back expatriates with specialised skills.
South Australia's Premier, Mike Rann announced the moves in a keynote population speech to business, leaders at an Australian Business in Europe luncheon.
The strategies are part of a new move to target five key markets for migrants - the United Kingdom, South Africa, China, India and New Zealand.
Mr Rann described the move as "exciting" and said the migration specialist would be the first point of contact for all migration-related inquiries.
"They will work with migration agents to spread the word about South Australia as the destination for skilled and business migrants alike," Mr Rann said.
"This person will have a brief to travel throughout the UK to talk with potential migrants."
"The UK is already the second largest source of migrants to South Australia," he said.
"Clearly there are close cultural and familial ties between our communities."
Britain is South Australia's largest country of origin for visitors, with about 67,000 tourists a year, but there was potential for tourism and migration growth, the Premier said. "We want to market South Australia as a destination to potential skilled and business migrants and to the migration agents who are crucial players in the emigration process," he said.
The tourism campaign will promote attractions including Kangaroo Island, the wine regions of the Barossa Valley, just outside Adelaide, and the Clare Valley, and outback locations like the Flinders Ranges and the Birdsville and Oodnadatta tracks.