ABM 2012 is the evolution of the BC First Nations Community Economic Development Practitioners Forum held in Vancouver, February 28 to March 2, 2011, and the BC First Nations Community Economic Development Forum held in Richmond on January 17 and 18, 2007.

We have built on our experiences and your feedback from previous events to ensure you will be attending the premiere networking, deal making and information sharing event involving BC’s First Nations and Corporate Canada.

What better way to start 2012 than with an excellent source of qualified leads and contacts all ready to help you build your business and projects throughout the year and well into the future?

ABM brings together top business and economic development decision makers from more than 150 First Nations and Tribal Councils with businesses, investors, customers and suppliers looking to do business today in First Nation communities. In addition, the event attracts non-profit organizations and government agencies with a mandate to support economic and business development in First Nations.

All delegates are pre-qualified and specific in their offerings and requirements. You are able to choose your appointments based on detailed online-profiles developed by all delegates in preparation for the event. Business interests and opportunities are computer-matched to make the best connections and maximize time and opportunity.
 

This makes the event the most potent Aboriginal business networking event in Western Canada.

• 300 decision-makers from BC First Nations, Corporate Canada, Aboriginal organizations and government.
• 1550 hours of targeted business matching over three days.
• 4650 one-on-one meetings to create business opportunities.
   

The Aboriginal Business Match will:

• match Aboriginal economic development projects at any stage of maturity with potential partners, investors, service providers, industry, financial institutions, support organizations and government agencies;
• provide corporations with a focused and cost-effective forum to connect with BC's First Nations and investigate business opportunities;
• provide an overview of Aboriginal economic development and corporate Aboriginal relations initiatives (e.g. procurement and partnership) in BC;
• generate interest from investors, corporations and industry in doing business with First Nations;
• connect Aboriginal economic development practitioners with each other;
• connect corporations engaged in Aboriginal business initiatives;
• create visibility for Aboriginal economic development projects and opportunities;
• build a business network in tune with the unique characteristics of Aboriginal economic development;
• provide a venue offering information and connections to resource and develop projects, to sell products, to offer and procure services.

Supported by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), the event is a partnership initiative by the Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC (AtBC), the BC First Nations Industry Sector Councils, and the BC Regional Program Management Advisory Committee (BC RPMAC).