Importantly, Québec, the second largest province of Canada with its 7.5 million inhabitants, is its most vibrant and most exuberant. Not only is it a dynamic, cutting-edge economy; it is also a culturally active environment, attuned to quality of life and the highest educational and training standards.

The majority of Quebecers speak one of the Latin-based languages: French. Perhaps because of long-standing cultural roots stemming from France, Quebecers are Latin in spirit and in their demeanor. They are in tune both with Europe and America, taking the best from both. Many Quebecers speak Spanish to some degree, and they enjoy vacationing in countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Spain, to name a few. They seek the good life, they appreciate culture, they enjoy going out to a fine restaurant with vintage wines and good friends, taking in a play or a first-run movie, and going out for a nightcap and drinks.

This is why Québec offers such a remarkable combination of quality of life and business opportunity alike. Being an integral part of the North American economic environment, Québec exports 33.2% of its GDP, and 85.6% of what it exports is sent to the U.S.A. (it also imports 30.5% of its GDP, 44.1% of which comes from the U.S.A.). This shows that the Québec economy is very open to international trade, and that it is highly integrated with the U.S. economy.

For Québec businesspeople, this means vast opportunity. Some of Québec's most successful businesses export their products around the world. Others thrive on the demand coming from visitors. Still others have some of the most outstanding research and development in the world in areas such as biotechnology (leading them to enter into license and patent agreements with some of the largest worldwide companies). As an example, industrial R&D expenditures in Québec increased by 66% between 1993 and 1999, according to the most recently available statistics.

All this is possible because people in Québec are highly educated, culturally sophisticated, and highly motivated workers and executives. Québec is part of Canada, a country with a 3.1% annual GDP growth rate, the highest rate among its prestigious G-7 partners. Its educational institutions, such as McGill University and the Université du Québec, are world-famous and provide top-level education to its citizens and visiting students. Well over one million Quebecers have attended university, and 14.8% of Canadians aged 15 and older hold a university degree.

A high quality of life, complete individual freedom, easy access to the U.S. and Europe, friendly business environment: Québec has a lot to offer you.