Crouching Tiger, Hidden Wolf II

Vancouver, March 7, 2011  - Following the  previous historic 12-day Aboriginal trade mission to China in November 2008 (all photos here are from previous trade mission), the Native Investment and Trade Association, the Canada China Resource Development Foundation and Eden Investments Ltd. are collaborating to organize an even higher level follow up trade mission. "2011 Team Aboriginal Canada-China Trade Mission and Friendship Tour" will travel China from May 18-31, 2011. The trip itinerary will begin in Shanghai and finish in Beijing and may include visits to Shenyang, Dalian, Tianjin, and X'ian. Indigenous leaders will be looking to foster greater self-sufficiency through leveraging natural resources (mining, energy, forestry,  fisheries, agriculture, and major infrastructure opportunities) to attract investment capital to Canadian Aboriginal territories.

"2011 Team Aboriginal Canada-China Trade Mission and Friendship Tour" will capitalize on two rapidly developing trends. Firstly, there is no question of the paradigm change that is taking place with Aboriginal people and natural resources in Canada. The new reality of growing Aboriginal influence was signaled by the 2010 Winter Olympic Games featuring for the first time in history an unprecedented high profile involvement of Canada's indigenous people. In relation to natural resources, the treaties represented by the Land Claim Agreements Coalition (largely in Canada's high arctic) impact over half the Canadian land mass alone. When you factor in the treaties under negotiation or the impact of First Nations and Metis groups (who have to be consulted and accommodated under Canadian law for any natural resource development that impacts their traditional rights in their territories), the growing clout of the Aboriginal population is clear.

The second trend that is developing is that Canada has become chosen by the Chinese government as a preferable place in the world to do business and invest. It was recently announced that the first permanent overseas office of China's sovereign wealth fund, China Investment Corporation, will be set up in Toronto (click here for article). Also in 2009, China designated Canada with "approved destination status" making it easier for Chinese to visit Canada on tourist visas. Given the large Chinese populations in Canada's major cities, Canadian ties with China will only grow with direct Aboriginal trade and cultural connections.

The 2008 Aboriginal trade delegation was very warmly received at the highest levels in China and resulted in the signing of several MOUs with provincial and national organizations. Participants traveled to Chongqing, Shanghai, Xi'an and the mission culminated in a private dinner reception at the historic Diaoyutai State Guest House Compound in Beijing.

 

Those interested in participating please contact Teresa Ryan (250) 755--6399 or at china2011@shaw.ca,
 

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About Native Investment and Trade Association (NITA):

NITA is a non‐profit society founded in 1989 to promote economic self-reliance and strengthen Aboriginal participation in the mainstream economy. To carry out this mandate, it has organized approximately 100 national events throughout its history, and promotes partnerships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business interests.

About Canada China Resource Development Foundation (CCRDF):

Role of organization is investment partnerships  between Canadian and Chinese entities in the natural resources and energy industries.

About Eden Investments Ltd. (EDL):

Eden Investments Ltd. is part of the Eden Group of Companies. Since 1996, the founding Directors and Managers have worked closely with Chinese Government Agencies and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and have a history of putting together enterprises from North America with Chinese Companies in joint ventures.  In recent years most projects involve Chinese investment into North American projects. Due to the economic changes that have occurred in both regions, Chinese enterprises find themselves with a surplus revenues and are seeking strategic diversification.  Major activities involve matching private equity funds, between Chinese SOEs and fund managers in North America, with 85% of investment outside of China

 

PHOTO GALLERY OF 2008 TRADE MISSION