Business access to over 395 million consumers of NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement comprising of United States, Canada and Mexico).

The total worth of the NAFTA economy is US$9.14 trillion.

Canada’s economy has a growth rate of 3.2 %.

Business rate of interest is 6.44%.

Consumer loans are available at 10.11%.

Rate on deposits is 4.92%.

USA is Canada’s largest trading partner.

Total Foreign Direct Investment in Canada is more than 217 billion dollars in 1998.

The unemployment rate is 7.5% and is falling.

As an affluent, high tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Real Rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment is falling and government budget surpluses are being primarily devoted to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US - Canada Free Trade (FTA) and 994 North American Free Trade agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) have touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada can anticipate solid economic prospects in the future. The continuing constitutional impasse between English and French speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the federation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $688.3 billion (1998 est.)

GDP: real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)

GDP: per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,400 (1998 est.)

GDP: composition by sector:
Agriculture: 3%
Industry: 31%
Services: 66% (1998)