Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Norman Wells (Mar 11/02) - A businessman made inroads with Russian business leaders during last month's Team Canada trade mission.

Kevin Diebold, owner of Whiponic Wellputer Ltd., multi-trade contracting company, said he made some contacts with Russian businesses that could pan out in the near future.

"There is a contractor ready to do business there," said Diebold. "I don't expect anything to come out of it in the first five years. You have to work hard to cement a relationship but there is lots of construction building to do over there."

Diebold, who is also mayor of Norman Wells, was one of two delegates representing the NWT Chamber of Commerce at the Team Canada Trade mission to Russia and Germany last month.

The mission was headed by leading Canadian political and business leaders --including Prime Minister Jean Chretien and the premiers of all the provinces and territories.

In Russia, the national government put on a gala for the trade mission which included players from the Canadian and Russian teams involved in the famed 1972 hockey series.

Diebold said he visited Red Square and was impressed by Moscow's embracing of the West.

"They've come a long way since 1989 when the Soviet Union fell apart," said Diebold. "You see from talking to people who know the Russian way that stores have more in them, everything is more westernized."

Team Canada travelled to Russia and Germany from Feb. 12 to 22.