Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Gjoa Haven (July 01/02) - Business opportunities will open to Inuit in Nunavut sooner than forecast.

"We want Inuit companies to grow and to be able to take over existing larger companies within their communities," said Nunavut Tunngavik Inc's (NTI) Paul Kaludjak. "We want them to achieve those goals right now."

About 25 Nunavut business leaders and government officials met in Gjoa Haven last week to ignite the territory's economy.

They were working on a new economic strategy to be released by November, 2002.

NTI thought the best way to ensure a strong Inuit voice was a conference with Inuit organizations to construct a framework with Inuit organization perspective on economic strategy.

"Education will be the first stepping stone. Then we need an economic development agreement with the government. Thirdly, we need to focus on infrastructure programs -- all-weather roads and hospitals," said Kaludjak explaining that the focus on business is a result of NTI's new leadership.

The Gjoa Haven meeting included NTI, regional Inuit associations, Inuit development corporations, Community Economic Development Corporations, Chambers of Commerce and the territorial and federal governments.