FACTS and FIGURES

In 1994, Québec's GDP grew 3.9%. That compares with 0.8% for Japan, 4% for the USA, and 2.6% for OECD countries overall. Québec ranks 16th among OECD countries for GDP, immediately after Switzerland, Sweden, and Austria, but ahead of Portugal, Denmark, Greece, Norway and Finland.

With 7.2 million inhabitants, Québec ranks 79th in the world in population, ahead of Denmark, Finland and Norway. Over 50% of its labour force has a post-secondary or university education.

Expanding International Trade

Québec exports more than 40% of its production of goods and services, thanks to over 16,000 exporting companies. The 260 largest each have sales abroad exceeding $10 million. Québec exports represented about 15% of its GDP in 1993. In fact, they more than doubled in value between 1983 and 1993, from $15 billion to nearly $34 billion. Québec was the United States' 7th largest trading partner in 1993 ahead of France.

Québec stands 30th in the world among exporters and importers. When interprovincial trade is taken into account, it ranks as the 16th largest exporter in the world, ahead of Norway, South Korea and Australia, and as the 23rd largest importer, just ahead of China. In fact, for close to 120 products, Québec is one of the world's 10 main exporters. Telecommunications equipment, automobiles, aircraft and aircraft engines and parts are now among its 10 major exports. It is the world's largest exporter of aluminum and asbestos, and second largest for newsrpint.

Accent on R&D

In recent years Québec's rate of investment in R&D has outstripped its GDP growth by a factor of eight. Today, gross domestic expenditure on R&D represents 1.68% of Québec's GDP, making it one of the technological leaders recognized by the OECD. Industry is the main source of investment, since more than half of corporate funding of university R&D in Canada is in Québec.