These investments are ultimately investments in people. Their knowledge and abilities have already made Canada a high-tech centre. Canada, you may know, is already one of the most connected countries in the world. Now we are poised to turn connectivity to our commercial advantage. A recent study 2 sponsored by the United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry found that Canada tied with the United States as the most connected nations amongst the G7 countries.
Electronic commerce is the future of business.
The new marketplace is a virtual marketplace. The countries that move first and lead this transformation stand to reap enormous benefits. The figures are in US dollars and are based on Forrester Research data. This research and development work at IBM Canada in e-commerce software puts Canada ahead of the pack. In the case of e-commerce, these are technologies that will transform businesses of all kinds, in all sectors.