Scotland's Economy

  • Bid to strengthen ties with the US and Canada

    18th October 2022 by

    Short blog from Trade Minister Ivan McKee on his trade visit to the US and Canada.

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  • Response to latest trade statistics

    7th July 2021 by

    The latest HMRC Regional Trade Statistics further demonstrate the combined impact of COVID-19 and Brexit on Scotland’s trade. However, I am pleased to see that while exports from Scotland’s onshore economy are down 5% over the past year, this compares favourably with a reduction across the rest of the UK of 14%, demonstrating the work done...

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  • Scottish Annual Business Statistics 2017

    12th June 2019 by

    The latest figures from the Scottish Annual Business Statistics show that tourism, food and drink and the creative industries are among the sectors to have grown over 2016-2017. The statistics show an improved performance for the majority of growth sectors within Scotland’s non-financial business economy. Increased approximate Gross Value Added (aGVA) was shown in the...

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  • This week: 31/5/19

    31st May 2019 by

    Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund Manufacturing businesses will be able to improve their productivity and upskill their workforce with support from a £14 million fund. The Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund will support businesses develop their manufacturing capabilities by inviteing public bodies, academic organisations and charities to enhance their existing equipment and training services. To launch the...

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  • Scotland and the Netherlands: European partners

    24th May 2019 by

    Despite the ongoing uncertainty over EU exit, the EU remains incredibly important to Scotland’s trading potential. And as our second largest export market, one country which is of particular significance is the Netherlands. Scottish exports to the Netherlands were estimated to be worth £2.5 billion in 2017 – 7.6% of all international exports – and...

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  • This week: 24/5/19

    23rd May 2019 by

    Business hubs Public Finance and Digital Economy Minister Kate Forbes launched a new network of business hubs in public libraries to support entrepreneurs. The Scottish Coworking Network has been developed by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) with Scottish Government funding and is aimed at providing local entrepreneurs, freelance workers, sole traders and start-ups...

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  • This week: 12/4/2019

    12th April 2019 by

    Offshore wind summit announced Trade unions, offshore wind developers, supply chain companies and government will come together to look at maximising the offshore wind farm sector. The Scottish Government and UK Government will host the Edinburgh summit to look at how UK companies can benefit more from the build-out of offshore wind farms in UK...

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  • Scotland-Norway: An important trading relationship

    19th March 2019 by

    Despite the uncertainty over Brexit, Scotland remains open for business and this is something we want the world to know. One country which continues to be of significant importance is Norway so I am in Oslo this week to help build on our strong relationship and continue to develop our economic, political and cultural connections....

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  • Scotland and Poland: European partners

    23rd January 2019 by

    Despite the uncertainty over Brexit, Scotland remains open for business and the EU remains our single largest market for international exports. During a recent trade show in Germany, an emerging consortia of Polish Energy majors and trade bodies expressed an interest in learning more about Scottish experience and expertise in planning, developing, and managing major...

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  • EU taking more than half of Scotland’s exports

    6th December 2018 by

    The publication of HMRC’s Regional Trade Statistics this morning shows the importance of the EU market to Scotland. Speaking from Hamburg, where he is discussing further growth in Scotland’s trade with Europe, Trade Minister Ivan McKee, said: “These are very encouraging figures. The value of Scotland’s annual goods exports increased by 6 per cent to...

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