This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Ethnic minorities 'real wealth generator'
21/02/2005
Minority ethnic communities are a real wealth generator
for Scotland with a significant contribution to new
business start-ups and job creation, Minister for
Parliamentary Business Margaret Curran said today.
She told the Minority Ethnic Business Conference in
Glasgow that figures show people from these communities
are more than twice as likely to be self employed than as
the white Scottish population.
But at the same time, minority ethnic communities are
less likely to access external forms of support.
Now through Business Gateway the Executive and Scottish
Enterprise are encouraging these communities to make more
use of advice and financial support available.
Ms Curran said:
"It is well recognised that our future economic success
will largely depend on our ability to sustain greater
entrepreneurial dynamism and creativity.
"We want to encourage and support enterprise by tackling
cultural and social barriers to entrepreneurship.
"Growing the economy is our top priority. We firmly
believe that a successful economy is the key to our future
prosperity.
"We are focussed on improving Scotland's competitiveness
through high value, high skills activity and have recently
refreshed our enterprise strategy - a Smart, Successful
Scotland - to reflect this.
"It makes clear that we need to support business growth,
develop a highly skilled workforce and ensure that both
people and places have the opportunity to realise their
economic potential.
"This is what Fresh Talent is all about - encouraging
more bright, talented, hard working people who can make a
positive contribution to the Scottish economy and Scottish
society. We also want to benefit from diversity - new
ideas, new blood and new ways of thinking.
"Studies show that minority ethnic communities are less
likely to access mainstream business support services.
Business Gateway is a clear demonstration of the
Executive's willingness to listen to the business community
and respond to business needs.
"I encourage all members of all communities to utilise
use the Business Gateway to access sound advice and where
applicable, financial support."
The conference at the SAS Radisson Hotel was organised
by Scottish Enterprise and other public bodies to mark the
development and growth of minority ethnic businesses in
Scotland.