This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Alasdair Morrison encourages North East business leaders to innovate for successful future
12/01/2001
All those involved in the economic development of Aberdeen and the North East must work together to continue diversifying into new business areas and markets, Deputy Enterprise Minister, Alasdair Morrison said today.
Mr Morrison was giving the keynote speech to an audience of business and industrial leaders, economic specialists, academics and fellow politicians at the 'Oiling the Future' conference in Aberdeen.
Recalling the recent success of many Aberdeen-based companies in winning new contracts, Mr Morrison praised "the essential strengths of the North East economy, in which several important growth sectors support overall economic performance". He also praised the high quality of the local skills base.
Mr Morrison said:
"The oil industry has brought phenomenal success and prosperity to Aberdeen but it is essential that the local economy is not completely reliant on this finite resource.
"Those involved in economic development in the North East have done an excellent job in diversifying the economy to cope with this.
"The Scottish Executive has a key role to play in helping the North East business community continue this job. Last June we published our first ever 'Framework for Economic Development in Scotland'. This was designed to provide a single integrated and coherent framework for the promotion of Scottish economic development and it represents a significant consensus on the critical factors that drive economic progress and the priorities that we must address.
"Our recent setting up of Local Economic Forums to provide local solutions to local economic problems will also help provide a more focused and effective method of delivery.
"Diversification is important but there are also encouraging signs in the oil industry of returning confidence in the UK Continental Shelf. The UK offshore industry expects to increase investment in the UKCS to more than 4 billion pounds this year. This will protect jobs that might have been at risk, and create an additional 25,000 new jobs. This of-course greatly improves prospects for continuing success in other areas of business, such as the software, service and paper-making industries.
"Aberdeen and the North East already possess very substantial economic advantages in facing the challenges and opportunities presented by increasing international competition and technological change. I firmly believe that a shared vision of future possibilities, agreed common aims, and a wholehearted commitment to collaboration in pursuit of these aims will enable the North East of Scotland to capitalise on future economic development opportunities and to enjoy continuing growth and prosperity."
News Release: SE0037/2001
12 Jan 2001