The federal government announced it will make a further investment of $410 million in the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, a private-public collaboration designed to enhance Canada's access to Asian markets.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper outlined the new investments during a press conference in Vancouver on Friday.

"We are embarking, in collaboration with the other levels of government, on the largest infrastructure development program in this country in over half a century," Harper said.

"At the dawn of the 21st century, no country in the world is better positioned than Canada to prosper in the emerging global economy, and the Gateway Initiative is obviously critical to realizing our potential."

The gateway is a system of transportation infrastructure including:

• British Columbia's Lower Mainland ports
• Prince Rupert ports
• Road and rail connections across western Canada
• Major airports and border crossings

The initiative's mission is to establish Canada's Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor as the best transportation network facilitating global supply chains between North America and Asia.

Harper said the new investment is only part of the government's economic vision for Canada and one more step to reestablishing fiscal balance.

"It's hard to overstate the importance of Asia-Pacific trade to Canada's economic future. The Gateway Initiative is obviously critical to realizing our potential as a country," the prime minister said.

Friday's announcement, which builds on last year's investment of $591 million, brings total federal funding for The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative to more than $1 billion.

Analysts say it is an attempt by Harper to show that Ottawa's interests don't always revolve around appeasing Quebec.

Ten projects were announced in total with six located in B.C. that will shovel $800 million of new investment into the province.

Harper stopped short of giving details about the 10 projects saying, "I'm not going to steal your thunder today," to Trade Minister David Emerson.

Construction on the first project,  a seven-lane bridge across the Pitt River, began earlier this year.

The investment announcement appears to be part of the government's preparation for the 2010 Vancouver-Whistler Olympics.

"Another thing to always think about is the 2010 Olympics. It is (the investment) about trade and the gateway, which is very important in British Columbia, but it is also about hosting the world," CTV's Graham Richardson told CTV Newsnet on Friday.