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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
It was not so much a trade mission as it was the beginning of what could be a wonderful relationship.

CDETNO executive director Andreanne Laporte, centre left, and president Jean-François Pitre, centre right, stand with Jean-Yves Poitras, president of the Industrial Development Corporation of Val-d'Or, far left; and Robert Galipeau, far right, a CDETNO board member. - Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo

Nine Quebec businessmen, hosted by NWT French business association the Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CDETNO), spent three days in Yellowknife last week, scoping out the territory's mining-related investment opportunities.

It was the first time any of the gentleman had been to Yellowknife, and the delegation included

representatives from the Industrial Development Corporation of Quebec mining hub Val d'Or, and engineering firm Stavibel, which is owned by major global engineering and construction group SNC-Lavalin.

The group was warmly received last Monday evening at a cocktail event by members of both the Yellowknife and NWT chambers of commerce, Mayor Gord Van Tighem, David Ramsay, minister of Investment, Tourism, and Industry; and met key industry players during their three-day visit, including Nunasi Corp. president Tim Zehr, and Buffalo Airways president "Buffalo" Joe McBryan.

When asked at the end of the visit, if they had seen any opportunities here they would want to pursue, Val d'Or land surveyer Jean-Yves Poitras, used an analogy in response:

"To get married you have to first go out quite some time together and try to find exactly what you have in common and what you can share in common," Poitras said. "So, I'm pretty sure there will be more steps. It can take a long time but we have to start somewhere, and we're starting now."

The visit by the potential investors was greatly anticipated, and followed a trip to Quebec in February by representatives of CDETNO based in Yellowknife.

During that mission, the group from Yellowknife made presentations to various Quebec communities and business people about economic opportunity in the territory, and invited them to see for themselves.

The nine businessmen who would come to Yellowknife on the so-called trade mission were impressed by the presentations made in Quebec, they said, and felt the mining potential of the territory was worth exploring.

Representatives from CDETNO were also impressed with the credentials of the Quebec business people who were ultimately invited to Yellowknife, and after last week's visit, can see them investing in the territory in the future, executive director Andreanne Laporte said.

"Everything went well and those investors are very satisfied with the mission," Laporte said. "It's a great start."

It might be some time before the investors from Quebec invest here in Yellowknife, but ramping up exploration should be a key priority for the territory, the visiting investors said.

"For sure authorities have to work on that because it is the key," said Steven Campbell of Stavibel SNC-Lavalin. "If you don't explore, you won't find any mines. If you don't explore, there is not enough projects on the table."

The trade mission was part of a CDETNO strategy to attract more Francophone investment to the territory, across all sectors.

Similar trips are being planned for the future between other French-speaking communities.

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