NNSL (JAN 06/97) - A fall Thursday morning has knocked Premier Don Morin out of the latest Team Canada trade mission line-up.

"They will be short one premier," said Morin's principal secretary, Don Avison, Friday.

"He slipped on the ice, apparently, and fell on some cement, on his knee," said Avison. "He had surgery yesterday, so he's going to be laid up for a while."

In addition to meeting political and business leaders of Seoul, Manila and Bangkok, the Jan. 8-20 tour was to give Morin (left) an opportunity to informally discuss territorial concerns with his travelling companions, the other premiers and Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Asked if anyone will be taking Morin's place, Avison said, "We don't know yet. We're just involved in some discussions with people in Ottawa about that this morning."

As it stands, responsibility for promoting territorial interests falls to deputy minister of economic development Andrew Gamble and Doug Anguish, marketing director for the NWT Development Corporation.

Among the Northern businessmen making the trip will be Chong Park, representing Park Sanders Adam Vikse Architects Ltd., and Kevin Diebold of Whiponic Wellputer Ltd. in Norman Wells.

The work of Inuit will be the focus of the first big event of the tour -- a Canadian Inuit art exhibition to be held Jan. 10 in Seoul. Chretien will open the exhibition, co-sponsored by the GNWT.

Gamble said he focus on promoting established Northern industries.

"We don't have a whole lot that isn't natural resource-based," noted Gamble. "We have a niche in the tourism market which we can develop -- the arctic adventure tour, which seems to appeal to Japanese and Germans. I think as countries like Korea develop an affluent economy they will be attracted to those kinds of tours."

Gamble is also looking to expand fur exports as well as attract mining investment.

Anguish, meanwhile, will focus on pumping up interest in products of the corporation's subsidiaries.

Apart from arts and crafts, the subsidiaries produce canvas products, fur garments and other clothing, as well as Northern foods.

Northern representatives will also have a chance to make valuable connections for domestic business.

The country's corporate leaders will be among the estimated 400 Canadians participating in the tour.

Expenses of the GNWT delegation will be paid by the federal government.