Manitoba's success in boosting business is evident. The province's unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1980 at 4.5 percent in February -- the lowest rate in the country. Manitoba's exports to the United States have almost quadrupled since 1990. Much of the exports come from the manufactured goods. The wide range of products made here includes food and beverage products, farm equipment, specialty steel products, aerospace components, chemicals, plastics and furniture.
      "From Manitoba, we have easy access to the American Midwest, a traditional market for our company that still dominates our export sales today," says Kenneth S. Kidd, plant manager of New Holland Canada Ltd.'s versatile farm equipment operations. "This province also gives us capacity to ship to offshore markets in Europe, Africa and the Asia Pacific, and to emerging markets in Latin America."
      Manitoba's transportation links are unsurpassed: three continental railways -- CN, CP and Burlington Northern -- all operate inter-modal terminals in Winnipeg, enabling shippers to enjoy the economies of rail transport in combination with the flexibility of highway transport. The city's international airport, only 4.5 miles (7 km.) from the city's downtown, is positioned as one of the few major North American airports that operates 24 hours a day