Regional Spotlight Series: Manitoba

Located in the heart of Canada, Manitoba offers unmatched opportunity. Its central location in North America, robust infrastructure and business-friendly environment make it a natural hub for industry and investment.

Manitoba is home to 1.5 million people and generates a real GDP of $76 billion. Its economy is diverse and resilient, anchored by key sectors that include advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and agriculture.

This diversity attracts a broad range of foreign direct investment and supports long-term economic stability.

The province combines economic strength, sector depth and a highly skilled workforce. With a proven track record of securing high-impact projects, Manitoba continues to build momentum as a destination where global companies can grow, innovate and thrive.

 

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Attraction

Manitoba is a magnet for foreign investment, driven by key advantages such as:

• Strong Economic Clusters: A diversified industrial base that includes aerospace, agribusiness, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and critical minerals.
• Strategic Location and Transportation Access: Centrally located with multi-modal transportation access via air, rail, road and sea, anchored by CentrePort Canada, one of North America’s largest tri-modal inland ports.
• Competitive Business Environment: Low operating costs for utilities, industrial space and labour help businesses scale efficiently.
• Clean Energy Leadership: Over 98% of Manitoba’s electricity is generated from renewable sources, contributing to some of the lowest electricity rates in Canada.
• Targeted Incentives: A wide range of incentives and tax credits support manufacturing, research and development, clean energy and digital media innovation.
• Skilled and Educated Workforce: Two-thirds of working-age residents hold post-secondary credentials, providing a strong foundation for business growth.
• Inclusive Economic Development: Manitoba is advancing economic reconciliation through transformative Indigenous-led projects across the province.

Manitoba’s central location in North America, combined with its interconnected transport infrastructure, makes it a gateway to both continental and global markets.

Winnipeg’s Richardson International Airport is a 24/7 global cargo hub and ranks #1 in Canada for dedicated freighter aircraft movements, underscoring its strategic importance in national and international trade.

The Emerson border crossing is Western Canada’s busiest by value and serves as a strategic gateway at the northern end of the Mid-Continent Trade Corridor – a major North American route that links Canada to prominent U.S. markets and extends all the way to Mexico. This corridor supports efficient, multi-modal trade through major hubs like Winnipeg, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas-Fort Worth and Monterrey, connecting a central market of over 100 million people.

CentrePort Canada highlights Manitoba’s growing appeal to global investors. As one of North America’s largest tri-modal inland ports, it offers seamless access to international markets and continues to attract significant investments in logistics, warehousing and advanced manufacturing.

Churchill, Manitoba is re-emerging as a strategic hub for northern exports. As Canada’s only Arctic deep-water port served by rail, it offers a unique logistical advantage: being geographically closer to 25 per cent of western Canada’s grain production than any other port. In August 2024, Churchill shipped its first critical minerals in over two decades – zinc concentrate bound for Belgium – marking a significant milestone. With critical mineral shipments expected to double in 2025, Churchill is gaining renewed importance in transatlantic trade, thanks to its significantly shorter maritime route to Europe, compared to Vancouver or Thunder Bay.

Reinforcing Manitoba’s role as a trade gateway, both the Canadian and Manitoba governments have invested hundreds of millions of dollars towards revitalizing both the Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill. In 2025, the Government of Canada announced a new five-year $175 million investment, strengthening Canada’s northern supply chain and export capacity.

These northern trade assets are expanding Manitoba’s global reach, supporting Indigenous and remote communities, and unlocking new opportunities in critical minerals, tourism and exports.

 

FDI Impact

Manitoba’s welcoming business climate has attracted major investments across key sectors:

• Agribusiness: Over $9 billion in agri-food exports; leadership in sustainable protein, grain and oilseed processing, and food innovation.
• Life Sciences: Canada’s third-largest pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing exporter, with $1.5 billion in exports in 2024.
• Manufacturing: Manitoba’s largest industrial sector, accounting for two-thirds of all exports; notable capabilities in aerospace, heavy vehicles, advanced machinery and food processing.
• Critical Minerals: Home to 30 of Canada’s 34 critical minerals, including lithium, graphite and copper – positioning the province as a key player in the clean energy transition.
• Financial Services: Headquarters for major insurance and investment firms managing trillions of dollars in assets and driving local growth through venture capital.
• Creative Industries and Digital Media: A cultural and digital media hub specializing in film, animation, gaming, and virtual reality (VR), supported by top-tier tax incentives and talent.

 

FDI in Action

From Peas to Pork: How Global Investment Is Powering Manitoba’s Agri-Food Growth

Foreign direct investment (FDI) continues to shape Manitoba’s economic landscape, driving capital inflows, innovation and job creation. Two standout examples – Roquette’s pea protein facility in Portage la Prairie and the expansion of Winkler Meats through a joint venture with Johnsonville Sausage – demonstrate the province’s strength in attracting diverse, high-impact global investments.

Roquette, a France-based agri-food leader, invested $600 million to build the world’s largest pea protein processing plant, which opened in 2021. Capable of processing up to 125,000 tonnes of yellow peas annually, the facility leverages Manitoba’s proximity to pulse producers and the global demand for plant-based proteins. This greenfield investment not only supports local agriculture but also positions Manitoba as a hub for sustainable food innovation.

In 2023, a 50-50 joint venture between the Progressive Group (owner of Winkler Meats) and U.S.-based Johnsonville Sausage launched a $52.8 million expansion of the Winkler facility. The project doubled employment, increased production capacity and strengthened Manitoba’s value-added agriculture sector. By sourcing livestock locally and exporting premium meat products globally, this investment strengthens the province’s agri-food supply chain and export competitiveness.

While Roquette’s facility was built from the ground up to serve growing markets, the Winkler Meats expansion builds on a trusted brand and growing demand for high-quality animal protein. Together, these investments reflect strong global confidence in Manitoba’s infrastructure, skilled workforce and agricultural assets.

Both ventures ultimately serve evolving consumer preferences – Roquette by meeting demand for sustainable, plant-based foods, and Winkler Meats by delivering premium meat products to global markets. Each operates in export-driven sectors that demand innovation and rigorous food safety standards.

The two projects share common outcomes: job creation, supply chain growth and enhanced global visibility for Manitoba. Roquette and Winkler Meats exemplify how the province supports world-class investments, offering global investors a stable, talent-rich and strategically located environment for growth.

 

Partner Spotlight

Manitoba’s investment ecosystem is built on collaboration. The province works closely with Indigenous communities, post-secondary institutions, and private sector partners to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth. A key advantage is Manitoba’s responsive and solution-oriented government, which actively supports investors by streamlining processes, facilitating engagement and helping build lasting partnerships.

The Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) is a majority Indigenous-owned partnership that owns and operates the Hudson Bay Railway and Port of Churchill. AGG’s infrastructure forms the backbone of Canada’s Arctic Trade Corridor, linking Western Canada to global markets through the only deepwater Arctic port connected to North America’s surface transportation networks. AGG advances reconciliation by placing economic control, infrastructure stewardship and strategic decision-making directly in the hands of Indigenous communities.

Manitoba government programs such as the Manitoba Works Capital Incentive, Innovation Growth Program and Export Development Program provide targeted, high-impact support for businesses expanding in the province. These programs offer tax rebates, innovation funding and export assistance that stimulate investment, job creation and competitiveness across the economy.

 

About Manitoba

Manitoba spans over 650,000 square kilometres and features a rich mix of urban centres, agricultural lands, forests and over 100,000 freshwater lakes. Its capital, Winnipeg, is a vibrant city with a cosmopolitan population and a thriving arts and culture scene.

The province’s top exports include pharmaceuticals, canola products, pork, wheat and aerospace components. Manitoba’s commitment to sustainability, Indigenous inclusion and innovation makes it a standout destination for global investors.

Invest in Canada works to attract and secure foreign investment to Canada. The organization provides tailored services to international investors looking to expand their operations, including strategic referrals, partner introductions, incentive summaries, site visits and business advisory support.

 

“We are proud to promote Manitoba and to help attract leading companies from around the world to join this diverse and growing economy. Alongside partners at all levels of government, we are strengthening our efforts to bring high-quality jobs and sustainable growth to communities across the province.” 

— Laurel Broten, CEO, Invest in Canada