Asian businesses in Bradford are outperforming the economy, new figures have shown.

Asian entrepreneurs' ability to adapt to new opportunities has seen their wealth grow three times faster than the general economy, according to Barclays Business Banking.

Barclays' survey of the UK's 200 richest Asians between 1998 and 2005 shows Asians in Bradford and the rest of the UK are getting richer and are moving into higher value sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals and the media.

Less than ten years after it was established, Amin Zaman's company, Craven Computer Supplies Ltd which is based at the Carlisle Road Business Park in Manningham, Bradford, supplies the Ministry of Defence, Trioxide Europe and more than 70 local authorities. It has a turnover of about £1m a year.

Mr Zaman, a former Belle Vue Boys' School pupil, said: "The Asian community has the ability to stick together and identify new opportunities. Most Asian people are really hard-working.

"Now young people are going to university and are looking for niche markets they can go and exploit and make a difference. There are a lot of exciting opportunities out there.

"With so much negative publicity in Bradford you've got that in the back of your mind to create role models for young people here."

According to June Hartley, Barclays medium business banking relationship manager for Bradford, Asian entrepreneurs are adaptable and hardworking.

She said: "We're looking at second, third and possibly early fourth generation Asians. If you come from the Asian background people have got that background and can give advice on how to set up and run a business. My family wouldn't have a clue.

"Asian people network a lot closer. If one person sees an opportunity to develop something I think that message or opportunity spreads quite quickly within the Asian community."

She said integration between Asian-run and other businesses was increasing: "When an Asian business reaches a certain size they gain a certain degree of respectability, high reputation and trust, so there's integration which before wasn't there."

And Asian success in IT, communications and pharmaceuticals showed networking beyond traditional Asian sectors like manufacturing, catering and retail.

"They're not looking so insular. They're exploiting new opportunities, their community is developing," she said.

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