The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Scotland must export to multiple destinations
Government is determined to see sales of Scottish products grow
Scotland has huge economic strengths, which we need to maximise and build on.
We have substantial natural resources, which many other countries can only look on at with envy.
Our GDP per head is among the highest of all the nations and regions of the UK, while our youth unemployment rate is second lowest in the whole of the EU – and there are now 47,000 more people in employment in Scotland than before the 2008 recession.
More and more firms are choosing Scotland for their headquarters, recognising that we are one of the best places to do business.
We also have world-class universities and research institutions, which have given us one of the most highly educated workforces in Europe – and we are known for the quality of our products right across the world. That includes world-leading hi-tech products, our financial and other services and our fantastic food and drink industry, which goes from strength to strength.
That’s why it is perhaps no surprise to see that the value of Scotland’s exports rose by £1billion from 2014 to 2015. That is a huge amount in just one year, with the value of Scottish goods and services now at £28.7bn.
We are determined to see it grow yet further.
We are working on an ambitious programme of internationalisation, including measures to broaden Scotland’s export base and to grow exports beyond our traditional markets.
We are establishing a board of trade, chaired by myself , to advise on how to boost the number of exporters, to help join up services and support and increase the number of exports to new markets.
The membership of the board deliberately business-focused and brings together a range of people with significant expertise and relevant experience in exporting activity from a variety of perspectives who will advise the Scottish Government.
We are doubling the number of people working for Scottish Development International across Europe and adding Berlin to our innovation and investment hubs in Dublin, London and Brussels and SDI’s 29 offices around the world, which will raise Scotland’s profile in Europe.
Finally, we are establishing a £500m Scottish Growth Fund, which will help companies access capital through guarantees and loans. It is clear, however, that since the vote to leave the EU, we must continue to be seen to be a country that is outward facing and open for business.
The EU market is eight times the size of UK market, which highlights the importance of remaining in the single market. I want to be clear that Scotland should not face a choice between exporting to the EU or UK – we can do both.
The threat to Scotland’s economy from a hard Brexit, outside the single market of around half a billion people, is very real indeed. That is why the Scottish Government is clear that protecting our place in Europe’s single market is so vital for our future: it is the best outcome for our businesses, for increasing exports – as we are continuing to do – and for economic growth.