E-Paper
Country Profile: Asia-Pacific Region
The Asia-Pacific region for the purposes of this report comprises Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong (SAR), the Republic of Korea, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan (Fiji has been treated separately).
The Asia-Pacific region for the purposes of this report comprises Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong (SAR), the Republic of Korea, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan (Fiji has been treated separately).
One common feature of this region is that the Indian community has mostly adapted itself well to local conditions and is regarded as a law abiding, educated and responsible community.
The Indian community (PIOs and NRIs) is present in significant numbers only in the first three entities, with 190,000 in Australia, 55,000 in New Zealand, and over 50,000 in Hong Kong. There are only 1000 PIOs in Japan, under 3000 in South Korea and barely 2000 in Taiwan.
Substantial numbers of Indo-Fijians fled to Australia and New Zealand after the political instability unleashed in Fiji following the coup in 1987. PlOs also migrated from other regions including Africa. The relaxation of the restrictive immigration policy by Australia authorities in 1966 led to a rise in migration to Australia and a change in its nature.
From camel handlers and agricultural workers in the 19th century, PIOs comprised of Anglo-Indians in the 20th century and increasingly professionals - computer and software experts, engineers, doctors, accountants - after the "White Australia Policy" came to an end. Of 30,000 Indian citizens, about 10,000 are students in Australian Universities. Other areas where PIOs are found are in the restaurant business, small and medium scale business, trading, and taxi driving.
There are PIO/NRI associations of Indians in almost all the major cities of Australia. New Zealand also witnessed a rise in immigration after changes in its Immigration Act in 1958. Indian immigrants are found in the domestic retail trade and in the medical, hospitality, engineering and Information Technology sectors.
The members of the Indian community continue to have strong links with India through family ties and frequent visits.
India's links with Hong Kong are over 150 years old. The Indian community is composed of diverse strata - ranging from wealthy businessmen who interact with the top levels of the Hong Kong government, to those in menial jobs.
While concentrated in the enormous foreign trade sector, some Indians have set up manufacturing units in Shenzhen in China and increasingly, a large number of highly educated professionals are seeking employment in the banking, finance and Information Technology sectors.
The links of the Indian community in Hong Kong with India are basically cultural and not adequately commercial. The status of Indians in the post handover period has been settled and fears about statelessness put to rest. Indians have contributed to the development of Hong Kong.
The Indian community in the Republic of Korea is tiny and comprised mainly of Sindhi business families, whose business relations with India are minimal. They have, however, strong family and cultural ties to India. The tiny Indian community in Taiwan is quite wealthy, comprising of Sindhi businessmen, diamond merchants, scientists on contract, software engineers and professionals.
The Indian community in Japan is mostly engaged in foreign trade. The non-trading community consists of students, engineers, scholars and Yoga practitioners. The number of Indian engineers, particularly computer software engineers, has increased from 120 in 1993 to over 800 in 2000.
The emergence of India as an Information Technology power capable of supplying quality human resources has resulted in a change in the profile of the Indian community in Japan.
