Collaboration will unlock global opportunities

From Alexander Graham Bell to Alexander Fleming, great world inventions have emanated from Scotland. The world is certainly in a different environment now, with technology and globalised markets influencing how we trade, work and live.

We only have to look at the success of businesses such as Skyscanner, Brewdog and Clydespace creating new business models which fit today’s consumer and global environment.

These are Scotland’s new entrepreneurial giants and it is their legacy and leadership that will inspire a new generation of innovators and exporters.

To support this next generation, Government must place business at the heart of economic strategy, recognising the best results for society can only be realised with the public and private sectors working in real collaboration.

The recent launch of the UK Government’s export strategy, aims to set out our future as an exporting nation, with an ambition to turn Britain into an exporting superpower.

To achieve this, the strategy aims to increase exports as a proportion of UK GDP to 35%.

Therefore, ramping up the intensity of support to businesses will act as a key pillar of increasing our exporting performance.

We have long called for policymakers to place exporting at the heart of economic strategy and we welcome the combination of advice and support, access to finance and digital support.

These are practical steps to be Brewdog co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie export their beer all over the world.

praised and, if applied with the private sector in mind, will lead to an increase in exports and create more jobs and resilient businesses.

The expertise and business reach of the private sector can springboard government initiatives and support more Scottish businesses on the ground.

As a business network with a global footprint, we live and breathe exporting and understand the intricacies of international deal-making and moving goods and services across borders.

Our biggest competitors invest heavily in promoting their nations’ products and services and we must exceed them and showcase our most valuable assets.

We are already tapping into our network of International Ambassadors

from the Scottish Chamber Network to expand business opportunities.

Our ambition to open up the Chinese market to more Scottish companies has been achieved through our established B2B connections.

The opening up of our dedicated Scottish Trade Office in Yantai, our formal engagement in the Silk Road Business Council and our direct approach with Chinese business leaders, will turbo-charge Scotland’s exports to China.

The potential for exports to boost Scotland’s economy is tremendous.

Business and government working hand-in-hand to unlock global opportunities is the most effective way to create and showcase the next generation of innovators and exporters.