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.

Film

Ice Road Truckers (Original Productions Ltd.) was the first reality television series filmed in the NWT. In 2007, 3.4 million viewers tuned in for the series premiere which made it the most-watched original telecast in the History Channel’s 12 year history.

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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.

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.

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

BHP’s Ekati mine in the NWT was Canada’s first diamond mine. Construction began in 1997 and it opened officially on October 14, 1998.

The Norman Wells oil field has been in production since 1921. The facility at Norman Wells is Imperial Oil’s (Esso) largest single conventional oil field.  It produces between 5 and 6 million barrels per year.

Expansion of the Talston River Hydro facility has the potential to replace 114 million litres of diesel and 320 kilotonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually.

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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 22, 2013
Community leaders focus on economy

While there was no shortage of official business to attend to in nearly four days of meetings and presentations both delegates to, and officials of, the Northwest Territories...

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May 16, 2013
NWT Industry Minister Pushes for 'Made in the North' Oil Pipline

The Northwest Territories is promoting the idea of a "made-in-the-North" oil pipeline as a means to get Canadian crude to international markets, bypassing jurisdictions that...

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