Vancouver’s economic strategy prioritizes building a resilient economy – one that can withstand the boom-and-bust cycles that are amplified when economies hang their success on a handful of industries. This involves diversifying and focusing on knowledge-based industries, such as technology, digital entertainment and the green economy – and so far, the strategy is working. Since 2010, Vancouver’s economy has been the fastest growing and most diverse in Canada.
As Canada’s Asia-Pacific gateway, Vancouver offers easy access to foreign markets in Europe and Asia, where strong international trade agreements are already in place. Vancouver is also known for its unparalleled talent, geographic advantages, and one of the lowest operating costs and taxes of any major North American city.
These and other factors have driven a strong roster of the world’s leading companies to set up or relocate their businesses to Vancouver. Their names are globally recognized: Microsoft, Amazon, Mastercard, Electronic Arts, Fujitsu, Intel, Samsung and SAP. Also represented are homegrown successes like Slack, Telus, AbCellera, Hootsuite, D-Wave, Lululemon, Clio, Carbon Engineering, Trulioo and Nexii.
To learn more about the advantages of setting up or moving your business to Vancouver, check out:
- Economic Snapshot, a dashboard that reports Vancouver’s recent economic performance
- Vancouver’s competitive advantages
- A profile of key industries that make up the local economy
Set up your business by connecting with the right investment agency
Local, regional and national agencies can help you set up or relocate your business to Vancouver. Not sure who to contact? Invest Vancouver is resourced to welcome inbound enquiries and Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) adds support to Vancouver-based responses.
Vancouver Economic Commission | City
Over the past 25 years, Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) has helped facilitate investment opportunities leading to over $10B of FDI and thousands of jobs for the region. We have expertise in a broad range of sectors, particularly the green economy – including cleantech and the circular economy – as well as digital entertainment and technology.
Invest Vancouver | Regional
Invest Vancouver is the primary point of contact for prospective international and domestic business investors looking to locate or expand business operations in the Metro Vancouver region (spanning 21 municipalities, one treaty First Nation, and one electoral area). The team provides sectoral expertise in agritech, apparel, digital media and entertainment, the green economy, high-tech, life sciences, trade, transportation and other industries.
Trade and Invest BC | Provincial
Trade and Invest BC facilitates foreign investment and enables businesses to successfully expand to and establish a business presence in British Columbia. It also helps to build connections and partnerships by promoting the trade of BC products and services globally. Trade and Invest BC teams can be found in Canadian embassies, high commissions, and consulates in cities around the world.
Invest in Canada | National
Invest in Canada is Canada’s global investment attraction and promotion agency. Facilitating global investment that spurs job growth and makes Canada stronger, the organization is the foreign investor’s primary point of contact. Invest in Canada provides customized services to help global companies unlock investment opportunities in Canada.
