The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Brian Wilson welcomes Scotland Europa appointment

28/10/1997

Scottish Industry Minister, Mr Brian Wilson MP, today welcomed the appointment of Donald MacInnes, Chief Executive of Dunbartonshire Enterprise, as Chief Executive of Scotland Europa. Mr MacInnes will take up post in February.

Mr Wilson said:

"Donald MacInnes has exactly the right skills to promote Scotland's interests in Brussels. His background gives him a strong awareness of Scotland's needs and potential in both rural and urban areas. He will be an excellent representative working on Scotland's behalf."

Mr Wilson also announced that Mr MacInnes has accepted a short term secondment at his request to put in place an inter-agency initiative aimed at addressing the economic disadvantages of the most peripheral communities in the Highlands and Islands.

He said:

"Over the next three months Donald MacInnes will consider how we can best tackle the continuing problems of depopulation and decline in those parts of the Highlands and Islands which have benefited least from conventional approaches to economic development. In particular he will look at how the various agencies can work together to maximise their effectiveness in those areas."

BACKGROUND

1. Mr MacInnes, aged 50, is a Gaelic speaker and a native of the Island of Scarp which lies off the Island of Harris.

2. Scotland Europa was set up in 1992 as a subsidy of Scottish Enterprise to promote Scotland's interests with the institutions of the European Union. It is a joint venture involving industry, education, local government, public agencies, trades unions and the voluntary sector.