This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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FM celebrates Chinese New Year
08/02/2005
First Minister Jack McConnell today attended a reception
in Glasgow to celebrate the Chinese New Year, where he
revealed that Scottish exports to China had increased by 60
per cent in 2003.
And he outlined a programme of events to encourage more
Scottish businesses to take advantage of the opportunities
offered by China's growing economy.
- Workshops for businesses
interested in developing joint ventures in China
- A major Scotland in China
business conference (October 2005)
- A trade mission to China
involving senior from among Scotland's top 100
companies.
He said: "When I visited China last October I was very
impressed by the success of the Scottish companies I met in
Shanghai and Beijing.
"And the latest export figures show that the scale of
opportunities for Scottish companies is enormous. China's
booming marketplace is an opportunity for Scotland, not a
threat.
"We need to ensure that Scottish companies are equipped
to make the best possible impact on this booming market,
which is why we have redoubled our efforts in China as well
as providing support for companies here in Scotland who are
thinking about establishing a presence in China."
The Global Connections survey for 2003 shows that
exports from Scotland to China have increased by more than
60% in 2003, up to £143m. There were a further £105m in
exports to Hong Kong, much of which is destined for China,
and combined exports to China and Hong Kong make them
Scotland's 16th most important market out of over 100.
The reception, held in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow
was hosted by Peter Nightingale, Chief Executive of the
China-Britain Council
During his visit to China last October, the First
Minister announced that Scottish Development International
(SDI) was to double its Chinese operation from four to
eight staff.