Investing in Richmond
Superior land, sea and air connections and a prime West Coast location give a competitive edge to businesses in the City of Richmond British Columbia.
Richmond is an island city situated between the north and south arms of the Fraser River just south of Vancouver. Lulu Island is the largest and most developed of the 17 islands that make up the City. The Vancouver International Airport, Canada's Pacific Gateway, is located on Sea Island, north and west of Lulu. Mitchell Island, upriver to the east is a thriving industrial area.
Richmond's Business Advantage
Richmond is well situated to give business a most advantageous location for serving local, regional, North American, and overseas markets. The City's Pacific Coast location provides North America's shortest flights and shortest shipping routes to Asia and Canada's shortest flights and most direct highway access to the U.S. west coast. Richmond's time zone is also an advantage. You can do business in both North America and Asia in the same 8-hour workday. The City's mild climate makes it easy to do business and enjoy outdoor recreation all through the year.
Richmond's location within the Greater Vancouver Regional District provides businesses in Richmond with highway access to communities within the region while providing the region with air, road, and sea access to North America and the world.
| Flying Times |  | |
| Toronto | 4.25 | |
| New York | 4.40 | |
| Los Angeles | 2.50 | |
| Miami | 5.45 | |
| Key Facts | ||
| Area: | 129 sq.kilometres (49.8 sq. miles) | |
| Population | 165,000 current; (212,000 by 2021); 4th largest in region; incorporated 1879; became the City of Richmond in 1990 | |
| January Temp | 2.5C (37 F) | |
| July Temp | 17.3 C (71 F) | |
| Annual Rainfall | 1112.6 mm (43.8 in.) | |
Richmond is a growing dynamic urban centre with a unique mix of residential, and commercial property, agricultural lands, industrial parks, waterways and natural areas. Richmond has undergone enormous change over the last several decades, with significant growth in the early 1990's. Much of the recent population growth has been from Asian immigrants, who now represent approximately one third of Richmond residents. These newcomers have contributed significantly to the growth of the small business and retail sectors and have added to the diversity and vibrancy of the City of Richmond.
Richmond's economy supports over 100,000 jobs in various sectors including services, retailing, tourism, technology industries, light manufacturing, airport services and aviation, agriculture, fishing and government. In recent years, Richmond has been emerging as a leading centre for high tech industries.
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To learn more about our City, see
To obtain copies of our business profile publication titled "Take your Vision Farther in Richmond" please contact our Economic Development Office.
Please point your mouse on Economic Development in the main menu on the left to see the list of topics in the fly out menus.
Economic Development
The City's Economic Development Office encourages and facilitates economic expansion within the City of Richmond. At the same time, its goal is to provide employment opportunities for Richmond residents by facilitating development of a strong economy and business community.
The Office acts as a catalyst to bring together people, ideas and capital, ultimately leading to economic development and diversification. It also assists companies considering expansion or relocation in Richmond, by providing a range of services, including information on available land or premises, government programs, and facts and figures that may be useful in arriving at the right location decision.
Through careful planning, the City of Richmond continues to balance economic well being with environmental health in order to fulfill its vision of becoming the most appealing, liveable, and well managed community in Canada.
