This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Business breakfast in Glenrothes
15/08/2003
The Executive's top priority of growing the economy will
benefit Fife, a business breakfast in Glenrothes was told
today.
Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace told representatives of
about 60 local business that the Executive aimed to ensure
long-term prosperity in the economy, including the 'Smart,
Successful Scotland' strategy, which has received support
from businesses across Scotland.
He said:
"If we want to achieve the ambitions we have set
ourselves - to deliver first class public services - we
must create an environment that will encourage enterprise
and allow business to thrive.
"The Executive, and its agencies such as Scottish
Enterprise, will do all they can to help grow the economy -
our top priority.
"Scottish Enterprise Fife helped 594 new businesses to
start up last year, encouraged 131 businesses to market and
transact online, and supported 21 Fife-based companies to
open up new markets abroad.
"A smart, successful Scotland needs highly skilled and
trained workers to achieve it. Last year in Fife, 282 young
people were supported to achieve Modern Apprenticeships,
and 408 unemployed adults gained employment through the
Training for Work programme."
Joe Noble, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise Fife,
commented:
"We're delighted to welcome the Deputy First Minister
along to Fife today. We hope that he has been impressed by
the dynamism and innovation demonstrated by some of the
businesses whom he has spoken with, and whose success is
essential to sustaining the local economy and driving it
forward.
"As Mr Wallace has also recently taken on the Enterprise
portfolio within the Scottish Executive, we also look
forward to working alongside him towards our shared vision
of making 'A Smart, Successful Scotland' a reality in
Fife."
After the breakfast, the Minister went on to visit Optos
Plc in Dunfermline, where he was given a tour of the
premises.
Optos Plc develops ophthalmic imaging products, which
help improve image capture and analysis capability for the
early detection and prevention of eye disease.
Mr Wallace said:
"Optos is a good example of a Scottish business idea
actually being developed in Scotland. Scots have a great
tradition of invention, but we have not always seen the
production benefits of this, with the jobs that it can
bring.
"We are obviously keen to encourage companies such as
Optos, and Scottish Enterprise Fife have provided them with
significant support over the past three years."
The Minister also visited St Andrews University, where
he was given a tour of the university's Sea Mammal Research
Unit.
Following his visit, Mr Wallace said:
"St Andrews University has an excellent record of
scientific research, and the sea mammal unit is a
particularly good example of this. The unit is certainly a
world leader in its field."