Ghiz 'quite emotional' at visit to Netherland's war cemetery

P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz, now on a trade mission to the Netherlands and India, says the personal highlight of the trip for him so far has been a visit to a war cemetery where several Island soldiers are buried.

Although Ghiz and representatives from Island businesses and the University of Prince Edward Island have mainly focused on drumming up more business and educational opportunities for P.E.I., they also had the opportunity to visit the Holten Canadian War Cemetery.

"It was actually quite emotional," said Ghiz.

"This is a cemetery that marks the graves of those fallen soldiers in the Netherlands. And this year marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Holland, so researchers have identified 15 Island soldiers buried there. And we had the opportunity to pay our respects and visit those individual graves."

In the Netherlands, the contingent met with universities to promote and discuss collaborations for the new UPEI engineering program, Ghiz says.

The university has also signed an agreement with another institution in India, he says.

IT company bringing more jobs

In India, Ghiz met with the Prime Minister and other high-ranking government officials and spoke to the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce.

The premier is confident business meetings will translate into opportunities for Island companies.

"You know, it's an opportunity for us to promote Prince Edward Island as a great spot to set up shop and I would say we are going to get a few visits in the spring this year of companies that are thinking about Prince Edward Island," said Ghiz.

"Now, a lot of these companies are already located in Canada, but they are in bigger jurisdictions such as Toronto or Calgary and they don't really hear too much about Prince Edward Island, so it's our opportunity to highlight what we have to offer."

On a similar trip to India in 2012, Ghiz announced an IT company called Mphasis would be coming to P.E.I. with 100 jobs to start.

Ghiz says the company is still waiting for some contracts to come through, but he maintains it will eventually translate into more jobs on the Island.

He says he has been able to mention Mphasis as a way of encouraging other businesses from India to look at the Island.

Ghiz returns to Canada on Jan. 17, but will be heading directly to a meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers in St. John's.

He will also attend the Council of the Federation meeting at the end of the month in Ottawa. That will be his last time at a premiers' meeting.