Economic Sectors

With a wide gamut of products, services and infrastructure, the NWT has plenty of growth potential for investors and business people, no matter what industry they represent.

Transportation

Highways, ice roads and airlines cover the vast expanse of the Northwest Territories, from the north edge of Alberta to the Beaufort Sea.

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Retail and Wholesale Trade

In 2009, the NWT had the highest retail sales per capita in Canada, at $15,968, some 30 percent higher than the Canadian average of $12,312.

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Tourism

Tourism is the largest single renewable resource based industry in the NWT, and a major economic motivator with $111m in expenditures in 2010/2011.

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Manufacturing

Products include wood and metal fabrication for the mining and exploration industries, boats, and concrete and home products. Can mineral processing be next?

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Fur, Agriculture and Fisheries

Agriculture, fisheries, trapping and commercial game harvesting generate income and employment for many NWT residents.

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Construction

Most NWT construction firms start small with little more than a tool box and a pickup truck. Some have grown considerably, expanding into southern Canada and abroad.

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Energy

In the Northwest Territories electricity is generated in three ways: hydropower, diesel fuel and natural gas. Future options include geothermal, biomass and wind power.

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Oil and Gas

The NWT has world-class deposits, including an estimated 8.2 billion barrels of oil and 97 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves.

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Mining

Mining is the largest economic sector in the Northwest Territories, with the diamond mines generating approximately $1.7 billion in export sales.

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Looking for Business Opportunities? Consider the Northwest Territories

Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to explore the untold natural resources of the Northwest Territories, or you're seeking a partnership opportunity to develop a sustainable business or industry in Canada's north, InvestNWT can help you make the right connections and enhance your profits. Look here for expert advice on subsidies, incentives, tax breaks, and our highly trained workforce. From the capital, Yellowknife, to the Arctic Ocean, the NWT's wealth of oil and gas, energy, mines and minerals, diamonds and furs are excellent investments. Joint venture with Aboriginal partners and increase your opportunities for success in this fast growing economy.

Unlocking known gas fields in the Mackenzie Delta could produce about 800 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Wood Buffalo National Park is the Canada’s largest national park and one of the largest in the world.

About 40% of NWT residents over the age of 15 spend time participating in the traditional harvesting of trapping, fishing or hunting.

Wild fur from the NWT is considered among the very best in the world. Marten fur from the NWST is internationally recognized as second only to Russian Sable.

The Northwest Territories commercial fishing sector is largely concentrated on Great Slave Lake.  While many freshwater species are found in the lake, export-grade whitefish is the most dominant.

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NWT Overview

The Northwest Territories is a land of remarkable beauty and tremendous economic opportunity. An abundance of resources support a thriving economy; diamonds, gold and other minerals, oil and...

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More news

Recent News

May 11, 2012
Northern economy poised to outperform

There is a hot spot in Canada's lacklustre economy — the North.  The Conference Board says a global commodities boom is igniting a fire under Canada's three northern...

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May 10, 2012
NWT film selected for screening at Cannes Film Festival

 Northwest Territories resident Andrew Silke’s short film, Amelia, will screen at the 65th Cannes International Film Festival in France. Everyone in the cast and crew is from...

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