This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Business in Parliament Conference
23/04/2004
Scotland needs both a strong Parliament and a strong
business sector for our economy to grow said the First
Minister, Jack McConnell, today.
Speaking to an audience of MSPs and members of the
business community at the Business in Parliament Conference
in Edinburgh, Mr McConnell said:
"Scotland may be a relatively small country, but there
are times when we can use that to our advantage.
"Being small means that we can bring our business
leaders and politicians together to focus on enterprise and
growth - in ways that just couldn't be managed in other
countries.
"But being small does not mean we think small. On the
contrary now is the time to think big.
"Economic growth must be our main priority, as devolved
government, and as a Parliament.
"The powers of devolution have given us a fantastic
chance to give Scotland a strong competitive edge
internationally using our skills, research and ability to
innovate - and I'm determined that we make the most of
Scotland's potential.
"Scotland's future economic performance will depend on
us having the right components in place to perform on the
international stage - the infrastructure; the skills and
learning; the enterprising culture; and the people.
"It will depend on us building on the strengths that we
already have in our infrastructure and our skills and
learning - and in developing new ways to attract fresh
talent and to promote a more enterprising culture.
"And it will depend on us forging a whole new
relationship between our politicians and our business
leaders."
Addressing the Conference, the Deputy First Minister,
Jim Wallace, said:
"Today is an important and, in many ways, unique event -
bringing Scotland's business sector and politicians
together to discuss growing the economy. Scotland's
business and Scotland's government want the same things - a
strong vibrant economy in a confident, modern and dynamic
Scotland.
click here to view full text of
speech
"In my role as Deputy First Minister and Minister for
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, one of my priorities is
to constantly seek out opportunities to meet - and listen
to - the views of business. Together with Lewis Macdonald,
we have visited businesses of every conceivable size, in
every corner of Scotland and in every major sector. These
contacts are vital, and will continue. They allow me, and
my Ministerial colleagues, to hear first hand the
opportunities and challenges facing businesses in
Scotland.
"Today is certainly not an end in itself but rather part
of this ongoing process. We want to develop dialogue with
business, to build a shared understanding of the issues
that are affecting business - and to work together to
resolve these issues and ultimately grow Scotland's
economy."