Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Feb 03/99) - Both Manitoba and the Keewatin Region stand to gain from the progress made at last month's Kivalliq Trade Mission to the western province.

The mission was only the beginning, in what will hopefully be increased economic relations between the two areas, says Robert Connelly, manager of community economic development for the Department of Resources,

Wildlife and Economic Development and a member of the Kivalliq Trade Mission Organizing Committee.

More than 100 delegates representing all seven Keewatin communities made the trip to Manitoba and Connelly says the mission signalled the beginning of a new era of trade relations between the Keewatin and Manitoba.

"One of the main things we feel about the Kivalliq Trade Mission is that this is just the beginning or the aftereffects, if you will, of the trade mission" said Connelly. "Actually, Manitoba delegates will be coming up to the Kivalliq Region in about three or four weeks time on their way to a trade show in Iqaluit.

"Initially, they thought of just more or less passing through Rankin, but the discussions I had with Manitoba's Department of Rural Development last week indicated they were so happy with the success of the Kivalliq Trade Mission they want to stop into a few of our communities and reciprocate our visit and do some follow ups."

Manitoba Rural Development Minister Len Derkach said, in a written release, Manitoba has enjoyed a business and community relationship with the Kivalliq Region for some time. He said the visit to Manitoba by Kivalliq leaders has helped the province to identify some of the region's needs and how the two can best work together to build and strengthen existing relationships.

"Manitoba will reciprocate with a trade mission to the new territory of Nunavut in the early spring of 1999," informed Derkach.

Connelly said the arts and crafts and tourism industries got a lot of attention during the mission, as well as manufacturing and construction. He said there was also a lot of discussion on the transportation and energy studies currently being conducted.

"We hope to see some signed agreements come out of the progress we made on the mission and we're hopeful, in fact, that may even happen when the Manitoba delegates visit the Keewatin later this month.

"But, again, I'd like to point out the trade mission was only the beginning, a very positive beginning, and we'll continue to build our relationship with Manitoba from there."