July 5, 2017
[Photo: NWT Nominee Program Business Stream recipient Bingjun Wang]
With the release of its Northwest Territories’ Immigration Strategy 2017-2022: Building a Skilled Workforce and a Vibrant Economy, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has formalized its planned approach to increase the number of immigrants working and investing in the NWT.
Alexandrea Malakoe is the Business and Trade Officer with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. She shares in the responsibility for the administration and implementation of the Strategy’s Business Stream.
What is the Business Stream? How does it fit in the GNWT’s Immigration Strategy?
There are two streams to the Immigration Strategy; the employer stream helps employers find employees, while the business stream encourages business investment in the N.W.T.
Our focus is to find entrepreneurs with business expertise and investment capital that are willing to settle in the NWT and enhance the economic environment of our territory by purchasing, starting or investing in a local business.
Business Immigration allows new business ideas to come to our territory with new people. It helps us meet our population growth objectives as well as promote economic diversity and growth.
How are you planning to promote the Business Stream?
Like anything else, we have to compete with other jurisdictions to attract these new residents. We’ve identified a marketing plan based, initially, on increasing awareness to the NWT business stream.
In particular, we know that local and personal connections matter. Immigrants already living in the NWT can be ambassadors for our territory and our marketing plan will include investing in their stories.
Also, we want to cement stronger relationships with key immigration consultants. Many times, these consultants are the first point of contact for potential applicants. Individuals contact them to learn how they can immigrate to Canada. Consultants assess their situation and recommend programs they can apply for. We want them to recommend our program.
We also know that applicants are looking for facts such as household incomes, population age, special education and business subsidies, preferred businesses and information about cultural diversity, settlement and integration. We’re focussing on making this information more readily available online and through established social media networks.
What is the most attractive selling point that we have?
We have heard from applicants that they find our program very accessible. We are quick to respond to applicants inquiries and make ourselves available to assist where we can. Other elements that attract applicants to the NWT are clean air, fresh water, a sense of space and opportunities for their children. These are the aspects that we will focus on as we promote our program.
We are already a multicultural community. Moving to a community that celebrates diversity with an attitude of openness is another positive feature of our territory.
Interest is also influenced by the eligibility requirements for a specific region. The eligibility requirements for our business stream are seen as favourable in comparison to other jurisdictions.
What hurdles do we need to overcome?
Our challenge in every instance is to establish a personal connection between our territory and a potential applicant. We want them to envision themselves and their family living in the NWT. Once they make that connection, they become invested.
We have heard that it is difficult for prospective entrepreneur immigrants to find business investments in the NWT. As our program grows, we hope that NWT business owners preparing to sell their businesses will consider our program as a means to connect with potential buyers.
For more information on the business stream of the NWT Immigration Strategy, contact: (867) 767-9202 *ext. 63092