St Andrew's Day Message 2005
First Minister Jack McConnell on the significance of St Andrew's Day at home and abroad.
St Andrew's Day is celebrated on November 30 every year.
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Over the next few days, Scots, people of Scots descent and friends of Scotland around the world will gather together to celebrate St Andrew, our patron saint.
It is a chance to think about Scotland, our traditions and our history, but it is also an opportunity to consider Scotland's new place in the world.
2005 has been a good year for Scotland. Six years after devolution, Scotland is using the powers of the new Parliament to make a mark - within the UK and increasingly further afield too.
Our world class universities are going from strength to strength and being recognised for their excellence. Last month, two Scottish universities were voted to be amongst the top five universities in the world for science.
Young Scots are increasingly confident and standards and attainment have improved every year since devolution.
And to tackle our notoriously poor national health; the parliament has this year, decided to ban smoking in public places. Bringing us up to date with the most modern cities and countries in the rest of the world.
The economy is growing and we are developing world class expertise and scale in financial services, life sciences, technology and energy. And our tourism industry is flourishing, in just the first six months of 2005 overseas visitors to Scotland increased by 57 per cent.
And perhaps most significantly, Scotland's population is starting to grow. For 300 years Scotland has been known as an emigrant nation. We have been a country that has exported our brightest and best - and many of them helped build new countries. Now, Scotland is a net importer of new people.
But with this growing national confidence and prosperity comes responsibility too.
Earlier this month, Scotland and Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries, signed a historic co-operation agreement. Our two small countries have promised to work together over the coming years, to help Malawi strengthen its public services and economy.
This is not a one-way agreement between politicians. This is a living, breathing national effort that will reach all parts of our two countries. In the year that Scotland hosted the G8 Summit, it is fitting that we accept our international responsibilities in this way.
Scotland has made striking advances over the last few decades - and devolution has given us the tools, and the self confidence to make the right decisions for our country's future.
But while there have been significant changes, we continue to enjoy the things that have been with us throughout our history. Our landscape is still some of the most stunning anywhere, we continue to innovate in many fields, and our people are known the world over for their warmth, their humility and their respect of others.
We are the best small country in the world.
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More information on Scotland at www.scotlandistheplace.com
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