Crouching Tiger, Hidden Wolf II

Vancouver, March 30, 2011  - From May 18 to June 2, 2011, the Native Investment and Trade Association, the Canada China Resource Development Foundation and Eden Investments Ltd. have been invited to organize an Aboriginal business delegation to China. "2011 Team Aboriginal Canada-China Trade Mission and Friendship Tour" will travel to the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Shenyang and Dalian to meet with high level dignitaries and business leaders. Participants 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.

As China has done so impressively, indigenous leaders intend to capitalize on the paradigm shift taking place within the natural resources sector in Canada to establish projects that may lift their people to a higher standard of living. In this regard, the Aboriginal Canadian wolf hopes to emulate the path of the Chinese tiger which has risen to become a global economic superpower.

"2011 Team Aboriginal Canada-China Trade Mission and Friendship Tour" will capitalize on two rapidly developing trends. Firstly, there is a 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), 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, was set up in Toronto (click here for article). Chinese companies have already shown great interest to invest in Canadian natural resource projects and is looking to step up its investments. A recent article in the Globe and Mail noted: "China Investment Corp. is looking to invest in Canadian resource, infrastructure and real estate companies...[It will seek] minority stakes in such companies, not controlling investments."  Apparently in July of 2009 the fund purchased a 17 percent stake in Teck Resources Ltd., Canada's largest diversified mining company, for C$1.5 billion which is now estimated to be worth approximately C$3.5 billion.

Also in 2009, China designated Canada with "approved destination status" making it easier for Chinese to visit Canada on tourist visas. With the large Chinese populations in Canada's major cities, Canadian ties with China will only grow with direct Aboriginal trade and cultural connections.

In this important aspect "2011 Team Aboriginal Canada-China Trade Mission and Friendship Tour" will represent an important cultural exchange between Aboriginal and Chinese business and political leaders. The previous Aboriginal trade mission of 2008 astounded participants with the enormous interest Chinese people took in the cultures of Canada's Aboriginal people. While many traditional gifts were exchanged, participants were even more delighted at the cultural synergies that were clearly evident. For "2011 Team Aboriginal Canada-China Trade Mission and Friendship Tour" some of the delegates from various Aboriginal delegations across Canada intend to bring special cultural performers to participate in this exciting trade delegation.

From a long term perspective, "2011 Team Aboriginal Canada-China Trade Mission and Friendship Tour" will provide the opportunity for an important cultural exchange between two ancient cultures. It will be an opportunity for conducting modern business and cultural sharing in an environment of mutual respect.

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For more information click on any of the photos in this article.

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

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