HIE and crofting deal is welcomed
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has announced that a member of the Crofting Commission will be invited to formally attend HIE board meetings to discuss crofting matters.
While meeting with representatives from both organisations at the Black Isle Show, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: ‘I welcome this positive development.
‘Given their respective interests, it’s only natural that the Crofting Commission and HIE should have a close working relationship, so it makes a great deal of sense to decide to formally work together in this way.
‘This arrangement will undoubtedly lead to even closer collaboration between crofters, the wider crofting community and HIE, which undertakes extensive work in the Highlands and Islands with the crofting community.’
Also speaking from the Black Isle Show, Carroll Buxton, HIE director of regional development, said: ‘Crofting is an important fea- ture of the rural environment in the Highlands and Islands. It is integral to many rural economies and communities. As such, it is very relevant to HIE’s remit for both community and rural economic development.’
And Crofting Commission convener Rod MacKenzie added: ‘We look forward to a closer working relationship with HIE, which we view as a further positive step towards the continued strengthening and development of crofting in Scotland.
‘Both organisations have very different roles but together can work to make a real difference to crofting and crofters.’