Québec-based IT executives at multinational computer services giants attribute the success and expansion of their enterprises to being located in Québec. An increasingly bilingual and skilled work force, higher education resources, proximity to Europe and the U.S. Northeast and a business climate that encourages capital investment are some of the assets they identify as drivers of their ability to compete. More specifi cally, they compete successfully with other subsidiaries of their parent companies worldwide for capital investment, or they complement those subsidiaries as no other operation can, they maintain.

Every fiscal quarter, we paint a portrait of the region's economic environment and analyze key economic indicators that help to assess regional performance as well as compare economic variables with those of seven other metropolitan areas in Canada: Montréal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton et Vancouver. The analyses on the economy of the Québec City metropolitan region are based on statistical data published by recognized organizations.

This study, entitled Economic Report and Outlooks for the Quebec City Census Metropolitan Area (2011-2012), was conducted by Quebec International. In addition to addressing key economic indicators for assessing regional performance, it takes an objective look at the results achieved in 2011 and those expected for 2012. Changes in a number of regional economic variables are also compared with those of seven other metropolitan areas in Canada: Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

In the midst of intense global competition for innovation supremacy among countries, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation released today one of the most comprehensive assessments ever undertaken of countries' innovation policies. The Global Innovation Policy Index benchmarks the effectiveness of the innovation policies of 55 countries – including virtually all EU, OECD, APEC and BRIC economies – and provides a framework for making effective policies.

Technologies Informatiques Codi (TI Codi) recently announced the launch of its operations in Quebec City. Based in the Quebec Metro High Tech Park, the firm specializes in the field of business process management (BPM), which involves describing, executing, controlling, measuring and optimizing organizational processes. It is a subsidiary of Swiss-based TI Informatique, which was founded in 1983 and currently has a workforce of some 170 employees. TI Codi offers a pragmatic and innovative high-quality approach aimed at providing turnkey client solutions.

Quebec City has successfully completed the second round of the prestigious international contest organized by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) and has been named one of the Top 7 Intelligent Communities. The announcement was made in Honolulu, Hawaii by Louis Zacharilla, Director of Development for ICF. Last October, Quebec City was ranked among the Smart 21 Communities for the second year in a row. Nearly 400 applications from cities and regions around the world were evaluated.

Quebec City has been named one of the world’s 21 “Smart Communities” for the second year in a row. This award is presented by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), an independent New York City-based think tank dedicated to developing the digital economy. The announcement was made by Louis Zacharilla, one of the ICF’s founders, at a ceremony in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Applications from some 400 cities and regions were evaluated.

Canada ranks No. 1 in our annual look at the Best Countries for Business. While the U.S. is paralyzed by fears of a double-dip recession and Europe struggles with sovereign debt issues, Canada’s economy has held up better than most. The $1.6 trillion economy is the ninth biggest in the world and grew 3.1% last year. It is expected to expand 2.4% in 2011, according to the Royal Bank of Canada.

Quebec International (QI) and the Quebec City region are shining brightly again thanks to their placement in Site Selection magazine’s Canadian rankings. The Quebec City region placed third in the Top Canadian Metros. This category evaluates the economic performance of Canada’s metropolitan regions. The final result was calculated by compiling major investment projects. The Quebec City region was outpaced by Toronto and Hamilton.

In conjunction with the 2011 Building the Broadband Economy Summit, which was held in New York from June 1-3, Quebec City became an official member of the influential Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), an independent think tank dedicated to creating jobs and developing the digital economy. Along with Shanghai (China), Taipei (Taiwan), Stockholm (Sweden), Cleveland (US), Manchester (UK) and Seoul (South Korea), Quebec City joined this select group thanks to its inclusion last October in the prestigious “Smart 21 Communities of the Year” rankings celebrating the world’s most innovative cities and regions.

Video featuring economic information and statistics. Definitely a must-see.

Blog by John Parisella: National unemployment rates often overshadow the work of some communities in transforming their economic profiles. Cities like Raleigh NC have transformed their economy and others like Des Moines IA have significantly lowered their unemployment rates. Another below the radar screen example is Québec City, Canada.