Scotland's Economy

  • 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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  • Chemicals sector has the right formula to grow our economy

    30th May 2012 by

    Growing our economy and exporting more goods to the rest of the world is the key to Scotland’s future prosperity. Leading the charge is our whisky industry, which has already helped meet a 2017 target to increase exports six years earlier than planned.

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  • Scotland’s food champions

    24th May 2012 by

    Tourism and food and drink are both key sectors when it comes to growing Scotland’s economy and the Scottish Food Champions initiative, which I have announced today, will bring the two together.

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  • Showcasing Scotland in Korea

    20th April 2012 by

    The final day of my trip to Korea begins with a media conference to explain the purpose of the trip – to pursue Korean investment and to promote Scottish business interests. I am accompanied by Frank Boyland and Howard Jang (both of SDI in Asia), Adrian Gillespie (Energy Director of Scottish Enterprise) and Ewen Cameron (SDI Head of Food, Drink and Textiles).

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  • Doing business in Japan

    17th April 2012 by

    I am writing this at the end of my first full day of meetings and visits in Japan with the team from Scottish Development International. In addition to a broad knowledge of the opportunities in the Japanese economy, they have developed real strength in the various sectors that matter to us; energy, life sciences, food and drink, textiles and working with our universities.

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  • Scotland Week – Calgary

    13th April 2012 by

    My Scotland Week engagements have now taken me onto Calgary where I am meeting a range of companies with a focus on energy, especially oil and gas. The connections with the North Sea are strong and we can build on these to bring similarly impressive results for more of our key industry sectors such as tourism and food and drink.

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  • Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s new Operating Plan

    11th April 2012 by

    In the midst of some of the toughest, most challenging economic conditions most of us have seen, it would be easy to lower sights, to dim aspirations. However that’s not the reaction of businesses, social enterprises or communities across the Highlands and Islands. Nor is it ours. Ambition has and will continue to be at the heart of HIE.

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