ASYLUM seekers should be seen as a "skills opportunity" instead of a problem. That's the New Year message from Jim Brathwaite, new South East England Development Agency chairman, who overcame racial prejudice to become a successful businessman.

Signalling a policy shift towards more social inclusion, he said the county should let migrants turn their economic drive and willingness into "things that will benefit Kent."

"I would urge you to embrace these people and get the best out of them," he said.

Barbados-born Mr Brathwaite, who came to England with his parents when he was three, is the first black chairman of a regional development agency. He said it was important to remember what successive immigrants had done for this country. "All have brought economic prosperity," he said.

The Brathwaites first lived in Toxteth, a poor suburb of Liverpool, before moving to Warrington. His mother wanted to be a nurse but in 1950s Britain she was barred because of her colour. His father was excluded from dock work.

Proud of being "working class," Mr Brathwaite said he never dwelt on his colour but admitted it had excluded him from an overseas job when he was told that Arabs "were not ready for a black manager”.

"I hope the reason I'm SEEDA chair is because I've got something to put back into the region and I will lead it well rather than I'm black."

But he said his experiences helped him identify with people "at the bottom as well as the top."

He wished there were more black entrepreneurs, but it was hard for them to get start-up finance. "Economic emancipation is the true emancipation," he said.

Mr Brathwaite will push the strategy of encouraging entrepreneurs in poorer areas, a key plank of Government policy. He aims to lift at least half of the South East's 119 deprived wards--some of them in Medway and Thanet--out of poverty before his three-year term is up.

Mr Brathwaite, 49, has taken over from Kent-based Allan Willett. He lives in a charming old farmhouse in Angmering, Sussex, but is already well briefed about Kent and Medway. SEEDA's regional office is in Chatham Maritime.

"I know where Kent is and I do like it," he said. "I want to see it succeed. It is coming from a little further back than the rest of the region but that's not a problem."

He will be paid £48,000 for a job expected to take up two days a week but often more. He was awarded the CBE recently, has four children, and loves cricket. As chairman of Arundel Festival, he supports the arts and admits to a fondness for Turner paintings.

He is following the Turner Centre project at Margate with interest. But he wants to make sure it is backed by other regeneration schemes.

"I just don't want to see the beautiful new Turner Centre the major attraction and then when you turn away you see all the broken teeth of a smile of Margate left.

I want to see the whole area regenerated and benefiting local people."

He adds: "I'm very interested in all things Kent--apart from when they play Sussex at cricket. But at all other times, I shall be batting for Kent."