Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

Yellowknife ( Jun 05/00) - On the heels of the recent trade mission to Alaska, the GNWT is looking into setting up an office in the northernmost state.

"We're (the GNWT's Trade and Investment division) looking into the practicality of establishing an NWT trade office in Alaska. I think it's necessary to have that kind of presence on the ground," said RWED Minister Joe Handley.

Handley made the announcement at the Northern Manufacturers' Association's annual general meeting held Thursday in Yellowknife.

"We think it's a good idea. The Northern Manufacturers' Association proposed it before the trade mission," said Karen Marshall, association president

"I think Alaska is great opportunity," added Handley.

With the Mackenzie River, the NWT has an attractive transportation route to Alaska, which is much shorter than the current practice of shipping goods from Seattle, he said.

"Alaska's community infrastructure is a long way behind ours. The housing potential is huge."

Handley pointed to the NWT Housing Corp.'s success in housing deals with Alaska, adding there are two Inuvik construction companies working in Alaska.

"This is the thin edge of the wedge."

But the NWT will have to be aggressive when it comes to getting business from Alaska, he added.

Several Alaskans are expected to be at a circumpolar housing conference that will be held in Yellowknife later this year.