NAI and GCFF: Accelerating Sino-Canadian Investment Connection

In the first decade of 21st century, economic and trade links between China and Canada has improved immensely. No more a decade ago, Chinese economy meant next to nothing for Canada, yet has grown to be the country’s second largest trading partner. Canada’s trade with China, no matter import or export, is only next to that with the U.S. Besides trade, investment connection between China and Canada has even greater implication for both sides. Ever since China and Canada started to negotiate over promoting and protecting mutual investment in 1994, the flow of financial resources across the Pacific far exceeds the expectations of the governments. According to official data, by the end of 2008 Canadian investment in China is CAD 3.58 billion, while Chinese investment in Canada hits CAD 2.75 billion. The investments involves various sectors including natural resources, green energy, information technology, food processing and pharmaceutical technologies.

It is impossible to talk about Sino-Canadian investment links without discussing strong Chinese interest in investing in Natural resources, especially mining. While China is promoting a wave of infrastructure construction with abundant national capital resources, the outflow of domestic capital searching for foreign resources becomes inevitable. In this context, the resources-rich Canada, where a highly mature capital market resides is a perfect object for Chinese investments. On the other side, for the numerous junior mining companies in Canada, attracting Chinese capital becomes a new development strategy. For the companies to successfully carry out the “China strategy”, the demand to understand Chinese market and get in touch with Chinese investor arises. The creation of Global Chinese Financial Forum (GCFF) is a proactive response to such demands.

(Gilbert Chan, President of organizer NAI Interactive Ltd. on GCFF)
• The idea behind NAI is?
Gilbert: More and more Chinese investors are interested in North America, but lacks practical information. On the other hand, many North American companies are hoping to finance on Chinese investors but don’t know where to start. NAI is here mainly to satisfy those two kinds of needs. In past 10 years NAI helped over 400 North American listed companies to reach Chinese investment market, and has become a trusted information provider among Chinese investors.

• In what ways do NAI help the companies and investors?
Gilbert: Our most important medium is the NAI 500 website. It is a one-site information provider, timely publishing bilingual company information and financial news on a daily basis. We also publish several books and pamphlets every year, including our Resources Investment Guide which comes out each year since 2002. Another focus is the business conferences. For example the GCFF (Global Chinese Financial Forum) to be held this time is our main event.

• Could you talk about GCFF in detail?
Gilbert: GCFF is a business conference we hold in Vancouver, Toronto, the U.S. (LA, San Francisco) and Shanghai every year since 2000. We have also held GCFF with particular topics in cities such as Dalian, Shenzhen and Calgary. We on one side invite public companies and financial institutions to the conferences, while on the other invite Chinese investors, aiming to create “sparks” between the two. It is fair to say that GCFF has created a number of successful cases of financial cooperation. It is a stage for “win-win” and “multi-win”.

• What have you planned for this year’s GCFF?
Gilbert: Conferences in the latter half of the year will be held in Toronto, Shenzhen and Shanghai. The focuses of conferences in Toronto and Shenzhen are both in the mining sector. China has been very interested in mining investment opportunities in North America, and NAI’s focus entirely reflects this trend. We will first hold the Toronto conference (named Bridging China Canada Mining Conference) in October, with mainly educational presentations. We have invited many experts and industrial insiders to deliver the presentations, hoping to help the mining companies to get in touch with Chinese capital. Of course, there is still the traditional session when investors could interact (with companies).

• Anything you want to say to Chinese investors in Toronto?
Gilbert: I hope to see many of you at our Toronto conference in October. We are already accepting internet registration at www.gcff.cn/toronto. The first 1000 guests to register could receive free entrance. Best wishes to your investment success!