This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland-Catalonia trade mission
18/09/2003
The British Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona was told
today that Scottish business should regard EU enlargement
next year as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace emphasised the
importance of EU markets to both Scotland and Catalonia
and told his audience Scotland must also embrace global
markets to achieve sustained economic growth.
The Minister is leading a trade mission of Scottish
companies who are looking for new market opportunities in
Spain.
Mr Wallace and Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Frank
McAveety are in Barcelona for a three day visit to promote
Scottish trade, culture and tourism and to foster ties that
already exist between Scotland and Catalonia.
Speaking at the Circulo Ecuestre in Barcelona Mr Wallace
said:
"With ten new countries from Central, Eastern and
Mediterranean Europe set to become members of the EU from
May 2004 and more likely to follow in the years to come,
it's a historic and exciting time to be engaged in
Europe.
"Enlargement will of course change the landscape of
Europe and not least from a business perspective, by
creating the largest single market in the world. The EU is
already an extremely important trading partner for Scotland
taking over 55 per cent of our exports and over 70 per cent
of Catalonia's.
"These changes will bring increased opportunities. Many
of these will be in public sector and infrastructure
development, in the early stages of enlargement.
"Our businesses must also be alive to the challenges
which enlargement will present, and we must help them to
seek constant improvements in productivity and innovation
so that we stay ahead of the game. But it is also important
that we recognise that the potential benefits of
enlargement far outweigh the disadvantages.
"Both Scotland and Catalonia are small open economies
which will be increasingly influenced by global flows of
investment and ideas. Our economic strategies need to
prepare us for developments on our door step like EU
enlargement, but also be driven by broader trends, namely
increasing globalisation and the development of the
knowledge economy.
"To countries like Scotland and Catalonia the importance
of international markets and grasping a strong position in
the new knowledge economy cannot be overstated.
"My firm belief is that Scotland is working towards a
prosperous, dynamic economy capable of competing with the
best in the world. A key part our economic policy is
'Global Connections' encouraging Scottish companies to
embrace global markets, and helping them to operate
effectively in the knowledge economy.
"This means better communications - whether
electronically or by road, air and rail - and an economy
capable of retaining its key resource, people, while also
attracting talent from abroad.
"This means as well as continuing to support traditional
exporters and high value inward investment projects we are
helping Scottish companies to internationalise at an
earlier stage, maximising the commercial potential of
Scotland's academic research and attracting venture capital
investment into Scotland. We are also targeting a range of
business partnerships including international joint
ventures and technology licensing agreements.
"We are taking forward a range of initiatives to help
businesses develop deeper international links and
globalisation strategies. And we are now starting to see
the benefits of these initiatives. For example, the Global
Companies Development Programme engages high potential
Scottish-headquartered companies to become global
organisations.
"To date over 40 organisations have taken part,
including oil and gas sector companies like Edinburgh
Petroleum and high tech companies such as Digital
Animations. The Interactive University has become the first
Global Companies Development Programme higher education
pilot and has now launched a new virtual university to tap
into the 24 billion dollar global market for
e-learning.
"Today I have outlined what we are doing to support
business in Scotland. I hope I have painted a picture of a
commercially aware country placing knowledge and technology
at the heart of our economy. And I hope this strikes a
chord with some of the business challenges you are
facing.
"Finally, I trust that the links between Scotland and
Catalonia, business and otherwise, will continue to
flourish."