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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Representatives of the NWT aboriginal business community were scheduled to depart on Saturday for a trade mission to China aimed at securing Chinese investment in Canadian Aboriginal business projects.

Alex Nitsiza, chair of the board of directors of the Tlicho Investment Corp., will be one of six aboriginal representatives from the NWT business community mingling with Chinese businessmen in China over the next week and a half to discuss possible investment partnerships for infrastructure projects in Canada. - NNSL file photo

The trade mission, co-organized by RCI Capital Group and the Native Investment and Trade Association (NITA), is aimed at aboriginal groups interested in accessing Chinese investment partners for Canadian-based natural resources and major infrastructure projects.

Between all Canadian provinces and territories, save Nunavut, 31 aboriginal representatives were scheduled to attend as of last week, according to Sean Riley, vice-president of RCI.

Six people from the NWT are taking part, including Nick Mansell, vice-president and chief operating officer of Behchoko Development Corporation.

"Aboriginal business in general has to lever itself up generally, so this is an opportunity to try and do that," said Mansell.

"Just generally, investment capital is hard to come by," he said. "We're looking at making business connections with Chinese businesses who are interested in investing in aboriginal business opportunities in Canada."

He added that an event geared toward forging possible investment streams is key "especially in the investment climate we've got going on right now."

Mansell is joined on the trip by Darrell Beaulieu, CEO of Denendeh Investments Inc.; Alex Nitsiza, chair of the board of directors of the Tlicho Investment Corp. and owner of Whati hotel Lakeview Lodge; Bertha Rabesca Zoe, legal counsel for the Tlicho Government; Karen Lau of Aboriginal Engineering; and Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche.

This will be Nitsiza's first trip outside of Canada.

"There's a first time for everything when you get into business," said Nitsiza.

He said he saw the primary opportunity of the mission was "to get to know new business in another part of the world" because it "might be of advantage to us in the future.

"It's good to network," he said, adding that the territorial and federal government can not remain to be seen as the only source of founding for infrastructure projects.

China's booming economy makes it a natural focal point for investment talk, Nitsiza added.

"I understand that they're rich and there's all kinds of money down there. More people, too," he said.

As for what projects he'll be touting in China, Nitsiza said he will be focusing on the development of additional hydro electricity facilities in the NWT plus more roads connecting smaller communities in the Tlicho region.

"We'll just do what we can to let them know what we have and see if there's any room for them to invest in our area," he said.