Nova Scotia has a great variety of business sectors on offer, from energy to agriculture and films. For companies and businesses, it means a diverse and supportive business environment.
Agriculture
The Department of Agriculture has a 10-year plan, Homegrown Success, which sets out the government’s commitment to provide industry with the support it needs to be more competitive, seize new market opportunities, develop new and innovative products, and create new job opportunities. The government is also supporting new immigrants looking to invest in Nova Scotia’s seafood and agri-food industries and building on its strengths to create new job opportunities.
Learn more about agriculture
BPO/KPO
Geopolitical stability, active government support, state-of-the-art infrastructure and cost-competitiveness make Nova Scotia an attractive North American nearshore location to grow your BPO/KPO operations. Nova Scotia’s capital city, Halifax, is among the top 50 emerging outsourcing destinations in the world, and among the top two in North America, according to Global Services.
Learn more about BPO/KPO
Clean Technology
Through its progressive environmental legislation, Nova Scotia became the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce hard-caps on GHG emissions. It has a legislated target of 25% renewable electricity by 2015 and a goal of 40% renewable electricity by 2020. As international attention in Nova Scotia’s clean technology industry continues to grow, the province is increasingly able to engage in significant research and development activities as well as large scale wind, tidal, and solar projects.
Learn more about Clean Technology
Defence, Security & Aerospace
Home to over 40% of Canada's military assets, Nova Scotia’s defence, security and aerospace sector is strong, diversified, and growing. This industry, which generates $500 million in annual revenues and employs a workforce of more than 6,000, is home to major international firms, including Lockheed Martin, L-3 Electronics Systems, Pratt & Whitney, General Dynamics, and CAE.
Learn more about Defence, Security & Aerospace
Energy
Nova Scotia is blessed with strong winds, the world’s highest tides, biomass, and a thriving cleanteach sector - and has a plan to reach its goal of 40% renewable electricity by 2020. The province’s oil and gas potential is three times previous estimates. Nova Scotia is committed to developing its energy resources in an efficient and sustainable manner, with a talented local supply community and the existing project base setting the stage for further development.
Learn more about the Energy Sector
Film
Nova Scotia is one of the largest film production centres in Canada, creating close to 3,000 jobs annually and generating over $100 million in production activity. Local film companies offer studio space, production support, wardrobe, full carpentry, video and audio post production facilities, as well as crew and talent.
Learn more about the film industry in Nova Scotia
Financial Services
Some of the world’s top financial services and insurance companies, including Citco Fund Services, Marsh Captive Solutions, and Butterfield Fulcrum have chosen Nova Scotia as a global centre for middle and back office operations. Learn why our skilled workforce, world-class infrastructure, competitive costs and incomparable lifestyle make this province stand out from other jurisdictions.
Learn more about Financial Services
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Nova Scotia’s fisheries and aquaculture industry are vital contributors to the province’s social and economic success - worth more than $1 billion to the economy each year. The government provides information, advice, and other support to new immigrants looking to invest in Nova Scotia’s seafood and agri-food industries. It also works with private, public, and non-government partners to provide cost-shared funding to Nova Scotia’s seafood and agri-food industries.
Learn more about fisheries and aquaculture
Gaming and Interactive Media
Nova Scotia’s gaming and interactive media sector is well established, diverse, and well supported. Recruit from 11 universities and more than 13 community college campuses and technical schools. Nova Scotia has an attractive digital media tax credit that is fuelling the growth of the Nova Scotia interactive media industry.
Learn more about Gaming and Interactive Media
Information Communications Technology
Nova Scotia’s information and communications technology sector offers skills and expertise in outsourced IT services, managed services, software development, and gaming and interactive media. Sector experience includes the defence, security, aerospace, financial services, privacy, interactive media/mobile, and e-health industries.
Learn more about Information communications technology
Life Sciences
Innovators from around the globe that work in the fields of neuroscience, medical robotics, biodiagnostics, microbial genomics, and agri-science have discovered the benefits of conducting research and doing business in Nova Scotia. The province is home to a cluster of innovative firms, including Immunovaccine, Ocean Nutrition Canada, Origin BioMed, Precision Biologic and Acadian Seaplants.
Learn more about Life Sciences
Manufacturing
Nova Scotia is an ideal investment location for manufacturing companies, including resourced-based manufacturing industries, sophisticated technologies, and product parts manufacturing for the defence, security and aerospace sector.
Learn more about Manufacturing
Ocean Technology
Nova Scotia’s ocean technology sector has over 200 companies, of which more than 60 are the innovators of new high-tech products and services. The research capacity, policy, and environmental and manufacturing excellence available in the province make Nova Scotia a centre of excellence in the world. Nova Scotia’s ocean technology disciplines employ approximately 450 PhDs - the world’s highest concentration of researchers in this sector.
Learn more about Ocean Technology
Resources
Much of Nova Scotia’s history has been built on its resource industries and they continue to be an economic pillar, particularly in rural communities. Sustainable resource development ensures that the province’s forest and mining industries create and maintain equally sustainable, well-paying jobs. A new natural resources strategy, one that is committed to sustainable practices, is guiding the future of resource development in Nova Scotia.
Tourism
Tourism is big business in Nova Scotia! In fact, it generates over $1.3 billion in revenue annually and provides jobs to over 33,000 Nova Scotians. To support this important industry, we provide a variety of programs and services that help the tourism industry with its planning, development, marketing, and operations.We work to provide tourism operators with the tools and support they need to run successful businesses.
Learn more about Nova Scotia tourism