This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland in Sweden
03/09/2002
The life sciences and biotechnology are to be among the
main highlights in a programme of events,
Scotland in Sweden, to take place in Stockholm
during the October Parliamentary Recess.
The four-day programme also includes seminars on
constitutional developments in both countries, a showcase
for contemporary Scottish culture, opportunities for
tourism promotion, a golf competition and a curling
challenge match featuring the British Olympic gold medal
winning team.
Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace, who has
responsibility for External Affairs, said:
"Since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament the
Executive has forged important links with other countries
and raised Scotlands profile internationally.
Scotland in Sweden is an exciting opportunity to
build on that work and ensure real practical benefits for
ourselves and our Scandinavian neighbours.
"Both Scotland and Sweden are world leaders in life
sciences and the centrepiece of the programme will be a
series of seminars that are being organised by the Royal
Society of Edinburgh, on our behalf, with the world
renowned Royal Swedish Academey of Sciences and the
Karolinska Institute.
"Life Sciences and Biotechnology have huge potential.
They offer opportunities to address major global issues
such as healthcare, ageing, agriculture and the environment
and sustainable development. But they also offer the
potential for wealth creation and skill based jobs that can
sustain knowledge based economies such as our own.
"Scotland - through the work of such organisations as
the Roslin Institute and our universities and innovative
companies - has a world renowned and extremely successful
biotech sector.
"Sweden also has a vibrant and growing biotech community
and the life sciences programme in Stockholm, which
features the most eminent names from Scotland and Sweden,
will enable us to create strong and effective international
links and ensure Scotland keeps its place at the forefront
of this crucial sector.
"However we are not ignoring the commercial applications
of this important scientific field. Scottish Enterprise is
already implementing a £40 million biotechnology action
plan with a target of 24,000 jobs by 2004. As part of the
drive to increase this sector.
"Scottish Development International is organising a
seminar on investment opportunities to which we are
inviting leading Scandinavian investment companies.
"Between 1995 and 2000 Sweden had the fastest growing
venture capital market in the world with many specialist
investors in this field. And we are keen to see them active
in Scotland helping Scottish companies exploit global
markets and making a positive impact on the Scottish
economy.
"However the
Scotland in Sweden programme is about more than
this important sector. By concentraing Ministerial activity
over a few days we hope to raise Scotland's profile and are
organising a number of events to promote tourism,
contemporary Scottish culture and food and drink as well as
two seminars on consitutional developments in both
countries.
"
Distilled - Live Scotland in Stockholm - will be a
celebration of contemporary Scottish culture. Based on the
highly successful event which took place in New York during
Tartan Day, it will feature Scottish food and drink and
exciting up and coming Scottish artists in a programme
hosted by the comedian Fred MacAuley.
"It will be an opportunity to promote cultural tourism
to Scotland which is an increasingly important economic
sector. Last year, for example, the Celtic Connections
Festival was worth roughly £2.5 million to Glasgow and the
Edinburgh Festival, which draws considerable numbers of its
audience from overseas, is worth many times that in direct
and indirect economic impact.
"Golf tourism will also be promoted via a special
'Shotgun Challenge' at the Drottningholms Golf Course which
will feature teams of high profile names in the business
and tourism sectors from both Scotland and Sweden.
"Scotland is seen throughout the world as the home of
golf and golf tourism is worth almost £120 million to the
economy. And the Swedish golf market is an important one to
tap into. Golf is growing rapidly in Sweden with golf club
membership doubling to half a million in the past 10 years
and a quarter of Swedish golfers take golfing holidays
abroad.
"Two important Governance Seminars are also taking
place. The first is being held at Uppsala University and
will look at Human Rights, Transparency and Freedom of
Information and the second, organised by the British
Embassy at the Swedish Institute of Foreign Affairs, will
look at New Politics, New Governance: The Scottish
Experience. Both these will lead to important, and
potentially beneficial, links between the two
countries.
"I am convinced that this busy programme will be time
well spent for Ministers during the recess and bring
practical benefits to both countries."
The
Scotland in Sweden programme runs from
Wednesday October 16 to Saturday October 19. It is
anticipated that the First Minister; Deputy First Minister;
Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning;
and the Minister for Tourism Culture and Sport will
attend.
The main elements of the programme are:
Wednesday October 16
VisitScotland Golf Shotgun Challenge
Distilled - Live Scotland in Stockholm
Thursday October 17
Life Sciences and Biotechnology - Realising the
Potential (seminars organised by the Royal Society of
Edinburgh, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and
Karolinska Insitute)Investment Opportunities in the Life
Sciences Sector in Scotland (seminar organised by Scottish
Development International)
Curling Challenge Match (featuring Britain's Olympic
ladies team against the Swedish ladies European Champions)
Food from Britain promotion at the British Embassy
Governance Seminar at Uppsala University on Human
Rights, Transparency and Access to Information
VisitScotland tourism promotion at the Hilton.
Friday October 18
Goverance Seminar (organised by the British Embassy) at
the Swedish Institute of Foreign Affairs on New Politics,
New Governance: The Scottish Experience.
Saturday October 19
Cultural Seminar at the Teaterdagarna
Folk Gala Night featuring Scottish and Swedish
acts