1. Basic facts about Canada

Canada, having is the second largest country in the world, with 9,971,000 square kilometres of land. Vancouver is a known city for having the highest quality of life in the world.

Canada has the ninth biggest economy of the world

Canada is the world's eighth biggest trader.

Canada is in the top five of for producers of natural gas, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, and gold, Canada is in the top five.

Canada is known for many great inventions like basketball, the electric light bulb, the electric range, the electron microscope, standard time, the television, the telephone, and the zipper.

Canada is the fifth largest energy producer.

Canada has the world's highest tertiary education enrolment.

Canadas Competitive AdvantageCanada's World-Class Economy: Canadas economy grew faster than any other G-7 country in the world in the last 10 years. Canada offers foreign investors one of the strongest banking sectors in the world and in addition to that offers fiscal position better than any other G-7 country.Friendly Investment Climate for Foreign Investors: The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Canada as the #1 place to do business in the G-7 for the next three years. Due to Canadas low tariffs, no corruption, duty-free manufacturing it continuously ranks as one of the most cost-effective global investment destinations. Advanced Research and Development: Canadian innovations are very global and influence the lives of millions of people around the world. This influence can be technological Canadian objects that are new and updated such as Blackberries, cars, etc. These innovations are supported by government R&D incentives that give Canada the lowest R&D cost structure in the G-7.

An Educated, Diverse and Vibrant Workforce: Canadas workforce has an immense quantity of skills and motivation which leads to their success. Canadas world-class universities, a publicly-funded health care system, clean, friendly cities and magnificent scenery make Canada a great place to invest, work, live and raise a family. Strategic Business Location: Canada is an important part of global supply chains. Since Canada is in the NAFTA it gives investors access to more than 453 million consumers and a combined GDP of more than US$17.1 trillion. Canadas top five trading partnersUnited StatesChina United Kingdom Japan Mexico Canadas Top Five Competitive Industries Aerospace: Canadas global share of aerospace activity has tripled in the last 20 years, making Canada the worlds 5th largest aerospace producer.Aerospace Clusters Ag-biotech: Canadian firms revenues exceed those of US agro-based companies and are more than double those of Japan and the UK. Ag-biotech Clusters Agri-food: Canada is the worlds fourth-largest exporter of agricultural products.Agri-food Clusters Automotive: Canada is among the Top 10 automotive countries and the 3rd largest exporter of automotive products after Japan and the U.S.Automotive Clusters Bio-Products:

Canadas most significant trade agreementsThe North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):The North American Free Trade Agreement is an agreement between Canada, Mexico and the Unites States. This largest global free trade area was established in January 1994. It augments/controls future growth and trade liberalization. It has also brought growth and rising standards of living people in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

Canada - European Free Trade Association (EFTA): The Canada-European Free Trade Association Free Trade Agreement is a free trade agreement between Canada and the European Free Trade Association. This agreement was signed in Davos, Switzerland on January 26, 2008, and took role on January 1, 2009. The point of this agreement is to remove all tariffs on goods.

Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)THE CCFTA is a trade agreement between child and Canada signed on December 5, 1996, and put into operation on July 5, 1997. The CCFTA covers trade in goods and services, as well as the bilateral investment relationship.

Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA):The CanadaIsrael Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA), Canadas first free trade agreement outside of the Western Hemisphere, is a free trade agreement between Canada and Israel. It was signed on July 31, 1996, and came into effect on January 1, 1997. 80% Tariffs on most manufactured and agricultural goods were removed. However, CIFTA does not have an affect on certain agriculture segments like poultry and dairy. Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement (CCRFTA)Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA): The FTAA is a collaboration among 34 democratic governments in the Americas, including Canada, to ensure prosperity, democracy and free markets for goods and services.Canada's Trade Negotiations and Agreements (TNA): The World Trade Organization (WTO) is a global international organization which helps producers of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business. Its main focus is to deal with rules of trade between nations. The included WTO agreements are looked over and signed by the worlds trading nations and approved in their parliaments.

Popular events in CanadaQuebec City Winter Carnival, Quebec City, QUEEvery year Quebec City has the worlds largest winter carnival, taking place on the last weekend of January and lasting two weeks.

Winterlude, Ottawa, ONWinterlude is a winter celebration in Canadas capital held annually in the first three weekends of February. As you may skate on the worlds largest skating rink Rideau Canal -, you may also enjoy other activities which are usually free and outdoors. Not only that, but you can also see magnificent snow sculpture contests, concerts and more.

Winter Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls, ONFrom the beginning of November until the first week of January, the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights holds a spectacular lightshow that includes an illuminated 5-km route of lighted displays, fireworks over the falls, concerts, children's performances and more.

Cavalcade of Lights, Toronto, ONThe holiday season includes this special month-long series of free events, including concerts, ice-skating and the illumination of Nathan Phillips Square and giant Christmas tree with 100,000 festive lights.

Montreal High Lights Festival, Montreal, QUEThe Montreal High Lights, a festival that goes 10 days starting from the end of February to the end of March, focuses solely on arts & culture, celebration of light and culinary. It is one of the largest culinary celebrations in Canada in which the food and drink aspect of the festival is a huge draw. WinterCity, Toronto, ONFor two weeks from the end of January through February, Toronto is filled with food, free entertainment and cultural events

Festival du Voyageur, Saint-Boniface (Winnipeg French Quarter), MANFestival du Voyageur celebrates French-Canadian heritage and this Manitoban area's fur-trade era. In this week-long February festival, we have snow sculptures, dog-sledding, skating and plenty of delicious food and drinks.

Canadas traditions

Popular events traditions, cultures and customs

Three most celebrated days in Canada are Christmas, Valentine Day and Mothers day. Although they might appear largely commercialised, in their hearts is a love and respect for other persons often in the forms of flowers and gifts. There are also commonly recognized festivals for celebrating Saints Days like Saint Patricks Day in English speaking provinces and Saint Jean Baptiste in Quebec. Family Day is a new statutory holiday in Ontario that observes respect Canadians have to importance of the family. Although not yet statutory holiday Canadian Multiculturalism Day stages events all over country about the many cultures that we share in our country.

Government and political situation

Canada is great country for foreign investors because of its stable political situation and highly effective democratic government both on federal and each provincial level. Buy respecting multiculturalism government offers great possibilities to entrepreneurs from all around the world to offer their ideas and products to almost any ethnic group that lives in Canada. Immigrants from each ethnic group are quickly reintegrated in Canadian society and there are no nationalistic tensions. Corruption is marginal and everybody can walk safely through each big Canadian city day and night. Economy is stable even during the big world crisis and with huge government spending in social care, education and health system that are available to everybody and at high standards.