Canada’s largest province combines European charm with a passion for innovation that is producing new achievements in the digital economy. Québec is fully integrated into the North American economy thanks in part to a common border with four U.S. states. Home to leading-edge companies in the aerospace, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries, Québec - and Montréal in particular - offer fertile ground for the forward-looking investor.

Montréal is the engine that drives this province's evolving economic growth. As an official International Finance Centre (IFC) - one of only two cities in Canada with this designation - Montréal-based companies specializing in international financial transactions enjoy substantial tax benefits. Also, its modern transportation infrastructure gives Montréal easy access to most of North America’s main business centres, including Toronto, New York and the entire U.S. northeast.

With vibrant cultural communities and a cost of living among the lowest of any western industrialized country, it's no wonder that when people come to Montréal, they usually stay! The safety and security of its neighbourhoods contribute to its renowned quality of life.

As the cosmopolitan and multicultural heart of Québec, Montréal also has a sizzling nightlife and boasts unparalleled creativity. In addition to being the home of the Cirque du Soleil, Montréal features a famous lineup of international festivals such as the International Jazz Festival and the Just for Laughs comedy festival, and Canada's only Formula 1 Grand Prix race.

Montréal's people are business-minded and professional, but they also know how to enjoy life to the fullest!

Québec’s business climate favours foreign investment by offering generous incentives for new companies, such as low electricity costs, tax breaks for research and development projects, and a 5-year tax holiday for approved projects. The business person starting a business in Montréal can expect operating costs that are among the lowest in North America and an educated workforce that possesses the highest percentage of trilingualism on the continent.

A great place for investing, a great place for living - especially for families with school-age children. Québec society invests heavily in education, and as a result can offer enrolment fees that are among the lowest on the continent (see section on studying).

Montréal ranks first among all Canadian cities for the number of students per capita (4.17 students per 100 inhabitants) and ranks second in all North America. Its four major universities offer degrees in both official languages and produce graduates in all disciplines, especially technology, business, and medicine.