Western Australia is the nation's largest State covering 2,525,500 square kilometres, bound by a coastline of 12,500 kilometres. It accounts for a third of Australia's land mass, yet contains less than a tenth of the nation's population.

WA's population stands at just over 1.9 million residents with a population density of around one person per 1.4 square kilometres.

In the past 100 years WA's population has risen tenfold. Migration has fuelled much of WA's population growth with almost 30 per cent of WA's population born overseas, and more than half born overseas or born of immigrant parents.

Most of the population is concentrated in a small area of the State's South West with more than 70 per cent of WA residents living in the Perth metropolitan area.

Much of the State's wealth is generated in the broad sweep of arable land south and east of Perth, the northern pastoral areas and from minerals extracted from some of the most inhospitable and remote mine sites in the world.

WA has a significant share of world trade in commodities such as mineral sands, alumina, natural gas, diamonds, wool, iron ore, wheat and gold.

Manufacturing in WA comprises a base of heavy industries supporting the minerals sector or using its products, and a fast-growing range of diverse but relatively small producers servicing niche markets at home or overseas.

As such, WA's economy is highly trade dependent. In the traded goods sector, most of what the State produces it does not use, and much of what it uses it does not produce.

Perth is one of the most isolated capital cities in the world. Its nearest neighbour of a similar size is 2,000 kilometres away.

Its links with Asian neighbours are strong. Perth is in the same time zone as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, and is closer to Singapore than Sydney.

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Perth boasts an excellent climate all year round and is admired for its brilliant blue skies, sunny Mediterranean climate and beautiful stretches of white sandy beach.

Not surprisingly, the Economist Intelligence Unit rated Perth the third best city in the world in which to live as part of a recent survey of 130 cities.

The Perth residential market features a selection of accommodation ranging from inner city apartments to large family sized suburban homes in areas by the coast, along the river or in the hills.

All areas of metropolitan Perth are linked by a transport system connected by a network of bus, rail and ferry services.

WA is a popular tourist destination given its close proximity to Asia and its direct flight accessibility from major cities around the world.

Over the past five years, almost a tenth of all private new capital expenditure in Australia has taken place in WA's mining industry.

A large proportion of the rest of the State's investment is in resource-related manufacturing.
The strong growth in resource investment over the past decade was due to a range of minerals including petroleum, gold, iron ore, nickel and mineral sands.

WA's proximity to Asian markets has been a major factor in its resource expansion, as many new investment projects aim to meet long-term Asian demand.

The mainstay of WA's economy has traditionally been mining and agriculture. However, its manufacturing, technology and service sectors have grown rapidly to generate new sources of wealth.

The industry is dominated by production of basic metal products, chemical, petroleum and coal products, foodstuffs and machinery and equipment.

The State's manufacturing effort is still largely oriented towards providing infrastructure and equipment for the resource industries, or servicing local demand for products such as food.

Nonetheless, recent years have seen the emergence of a diverse range of wider manufacturing activities, often undertaken by relatively small firms and oriented towards niche markets in Australia or overseas.

As the State's mineral sector expands, the manufacturing and engineering construction sectors grow to meet new demands.

Around 80 per cent of WA's manufacturing activity takes place in the Perth metropolitan area.

WA's services sector accounts for around 70 per cent of the State's economic activity.

This highly competitive sector covers services including health and education, building and construction, communications, tourism, business services and resources engineering.

WA is one of the fastest growing economic regions in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, offering a high standard of living.

Not only is WA recognised as a favoured location for sourcing high quality goods and services, it has proved successful in attracting foreign investment and enjoys a sound reputation as an investment destination.

Its stable and modern economy has been given an AAA credit rating by international credit rating agency, Moody's Investor Services.

Investment opportunities cover a range of sectors including manufacturing, communication and services, energy, oil and gas, mineral processing and mining services, agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture, viticulture and tourism.