Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 13/02) - Diamond mining is worth more than half-a-billion dollars and a whopping 17.5 per cent of the Northwest Territories' gross domestic product.

The booming territory had the highest economic growth in the country during 2001 at 19.2 per cent. That compares a 1.5 per cent average for the rest of the country.

Mining, oil and gas accounted for one-quarter of the GDP total at $689.4 million based on a 1997 dollar.

GDP looks at value added to the economy. It measures investments, personal and government expenditures and exports less imports.

Building diamond mines and the related infrastructure caused an 87 per cent increase to the NWT construction industry between 2000 and 2001.