Maori to Host Canadian Trade Mission Delegation in Shanghai

Vancouver, May 10, 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, and Shenyang 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.The trade mission will be joined by Maori leaders Te Taru White and Taari Nicholas who will be seeking to access the Chinese networks of Eden Investments Ltd, and the Canada China Resource Development Foundation for Maori opportunities in New Zealand. Currently, the value of the Maori economy is estimated at $36b.

While in Shanghai on May 31, 2011, the collective groups of the Aoteoroa Fisheries Limited, Federation of Maori Authorities, Poutama Trust, Maori Trustee, and NZ Trade and Enterprise will host a private dinner for the indigenous Canadian delegation at the New Zealand Central House. Aboriginal Canadians will be waewae tapu (the sacred feet, honoured guests) of the prestigious Maori organizations. The purpose of the formal dinner will be to explain who the Maori are, their capabilities, and hopes and vision for their people’s future. An overarching purpose is to forge strong business relationships built upon the common tikanga whakapapa (i.e., indigenous people who share a common relationship to the land and genealogy).

Given the enormous and growing natural resource ownership or influence Aboriginal Canadians have over natural resources in Canada and the growing importance of the Maori to New Zealand’s national economy, reaching out based on a common history and culture simply makes good sense.

About the Maori Hosts
Federation of Maori Authorities (FOMA)

FOMA is a national collective of Maori authorities, businesses and entities focused on promoting and supporting the interests and opportunities of its more than 150 members. Its members operate across a range of sectors including forestry, agribusiness, horticulture, energy, tourism, property and viticulture and have a net worth estimated in 2006 at between $8b and $10b. Established 25 years ago, FOMA has worked alongside its members to lift the value to member shareholders and to remove barriers that have prevented Maori from achieving their economic potential.

NOTE: Latest Business and Economic Research report released May 2011 now estimates the value of the Maori economy at $36b.

Aotearoa Fisheries Limited (AFL)

AFL is the largest Maori-owned fisheries company in Aotearoa New Zealand. It was established under the Maori Fisheries Act 2004 to manage the commercial arm of Treaty settlement assets relating to fisheries.

AFL is made up of a 50% shareholding in Sealord (Nelson) and Prepared Foods Ltd (Palmerston North); and 100% ownership of Moana Pacific Fisheries (Auckland), Chatham Processing (Chatham Islands) and Pacific Marine Farms (Coromandel). It is at the forefront of fisheries development in New Zealand.

AFL’s vision is to be the key investment vehicle of choice for Maori in the fishing industry, to maximise the value of Maori fisheries assets and to ensure that AFL are a strong seafood business delivering growth in shareholder wealth to Maori.

Maori Trustee

The Maori Trustee is a major administrator of Maori owned lands starting off in 1921 as the Maori Trustee. It is experienced in managing the unique character of Maori assets including issues relating to the fragmentation of land and the challenges of multiple ownership. It manages an estimated 105,000 hectares of Maori freehold land and maintains around 130,000 client accounts for owners. It administers around 2,000 properties and collects around $18m each year in rent and income on behalf of owners. They have six offices around New Zealand and hold about 500 meetings per year with Trustees and owners.

Poutama Trust

Poutama is a nationwide business development organisation that fosters the growth of Māori-owned micro and small businesses. It has been delivering its unique range of services for 23 years and aims to be around for the next 21 years and beyond!

Poutama is a charitable trust established to provide business development services to Māori. Income generated through investing its capital base , enables Poutama to engage in activities and provide services that support and facilitate Māori business development.

NZ Trade and Enterprise

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is the New Zealand Government’s national economic development agency.
Through their offices worldwide, they aim to improve the international competitiveness and sustained profitability of New Zealand business by providing access to people, knowledge and opportunities. They use their knowledge of and contacts in overseas markets to connect New Zealand businesses with trade and investment opportunities internationally.

New Zealand Central House

New Zealand Central (NZC) is an initiative of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and is a world class business centre for New Zealand companies and provides a physical presence for the New Zealand brand in Shanghai.

Located in central Shanghai, NZC offers New Zealand companies an ideal short term location for all business needs and is an exclusive and convenient venue for events and meetings in a high quality New Zealand environment.

Designed to help build connections, brand visibility and capability to grow business in China, NZC is an ideal entry point for New Zealand businesses looking to explore the market or create a long term presence.

It is a business-to-business initiative established to help businesses make the most of the New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

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.
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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[at]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