Why invest in Ontario?

INVESTING IN ONTARIO, CANADA: all the reasons you need Ontario, Canada is one of the most dynamic and profitable business centres in the world. In fact, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranks Canada as the best place to do business for the next four years. Here's why.

A dynamic economy  Ontario's economy is remarkably diversified, with major operations in key industries that include: automotive, advanced manufacturing, information and communications technologies, life sciences, chemicals, plastics, aerospace, food products, forestry and mining.

With a GDP of close to $408.7 billion in 2003, Ontario's economy is larger than that of Switzerland ($309.5 billion), Belgium ($302.2 billion), Sweden ($300.8 billion) or Austria ($251.5 billion).

Private sector forecasters predict Ontario's average growth will exceed that of the U.K., Japan, France, Italy, Germany and Canada between 2005-2007. Business confidence is high. Corporate profits are expected to rise by 5.8%
in 2004 and investment in machinery and equipment is expected to grow by 8.2%.
We have no foreign exchange controls.

An outstanding market We're an integral part of the North American Free Trade Agreement; this
region has a population of 420 million and a GDP of $12.3 trillion. NAFTA rules allow goods to enter the U.S. and Mexico duty-free when 62.5% of their content is manufactured in Ontario. Ontario's corporate centres are about 2 hours by air from major U.S. centres like Chicago, New York and Boston We're a major exporter; our international exports were close to $135 billion in 2003-50% of Canada's exports

Competitive business costs KPMG's comprehensive 2004 Competitive Alternatives report finds that Canada's business costs are the most competitive of the G7 countries (U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada).
Ontario's combined (provincial and federal) general corporate income tax rate is 4 percentage points below the U.S. average

An exceptional workforce 56% of our workforce of 6.8 million has a post-secondary education-that's higher than any industrialized country according to the Paris-based OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development).

According to the 2003 World Competitiveness Yearbook, world business leaders rank Canada's educational system ahead of Japan and the U.S. in their ability to meet the needs of a competitive economy. Our 20 universities and 24 colleges of arts and applied technology produce a steady supply of well-educated, industry-ready workers. We have highly educated scientists and engineers and our universities produce more than 29,000 graduates a year in athematics, engineering and sciences.

Our workforce is ethnically diverse-we speak over 100 languages-and that gives us a distinctive edge in serving global markets.

A great place to live Ontario is a multicultural centre-so, no matter where you and your family are from, you'll feel at home in Ontario. International firms establishing or expanding operations in Ontario can transfer key overseas personnel.
Spouses of transferred employees can apply for their own work permits. Ontario provides high-quality, low-cost education as well as cost-effective, publicly funded, universal health care. The choice of cultural and recreational options is endless, from major league sports and Broadway plays to lakes and forests.