Opportunities in Greenland
Morin sees potential for northern businesses

by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 01/98) - Premier Don Morin says he is pleased with the success of his recent trip to Greenland.

Though no business contracts were signed, the GNWT and its circumpolar neighbor are seeing eye-to-eye on a number of initiatives.

"I talked to the businesses that went over there with us and they're fairly pleased," said Morin on Wednesday.

Both governments signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate in business and trade.

"The business community in the NWT has expertise and knowledge that is well suited to the needs of Greenland," he said.

To do business there, Morin figures there may be transportation obstacles to overcome first.

"Right now if you want to ship from Canada or the NWT to Greenland you have to go through Iceland, Denmark and then to Greenland," he said.

"There are issues of crossing borders."

Greenland is planning to open an office at the Danish Embassy in Ottawa. The GNWT then can co-ordinate with the office there to improve business relations.

Despite transportation factors, Morin foresees many opportunities for Northern people in the Greenland in areas as construction, communications, housing, education and engineering.

Morin would not fathom a guess as to financial potential that could be created with Greenland.

"I do know that in the building industry. The majority of people are housed in these large apartment complexes and very few are left in independent houses. There's good potential there because the cost of building is very high compared to ours," he said.

Climates are similar as well between the two regions which means high winds pose problems.

Houses have to be made of concrete to keep them from being blown from their foundations. In the North, houses are built on piles anchored solidly to bedrock.

Greenland could learn to use this cost-effective construction method, he said.

The North could learn something from Greenland as well.

One of the more interesting sights on the trip for the Premier was a food market in Nuuk, the Greenlandic capital.

"It was three walls and kind of like a refrigerator unit kept at a certain temperature. The hunters who go out on the land, they bring back seal meat and fish and sell it to a person at the market. He processes it and the people go there to buy it directly," said Morin.

The central meat market, which is not taxed by the government, is something that can be used in the North.

"It was just thriving. That was really impressive."

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