The Scottish Government is committed to advancing Scotland's place in Europe and the wider world and will do this by maximising Scotland's influence within the European Union, building mutually beneficial links with other countries and regions, and promoting Scotland abroad.
The Scottish Government published its International Framework on in April 2008. The Framework sets out the Government's objectives for its international work and identifies how activities across the public sector support the Government Economic Strategy.
The Scottish Government's key purpose is to create a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth. Scotland's international activities are crucial to achieving this.
The international work of the Scottish Government and its associated agencies makes a direct contribution to the economic growth priorities set out in the Government Economic Strategy.
The Scottish Government aims to:
- support Scottish businesses looking to trade abroad
- attract foreign direct investment
- and promote Scotland as a great place to live, learn, visit, work, do business and invest
The Scottish Government's international engagement is driven by the Economic Strategy and the need to promote Scotland as a responsible nation and a valuable partner on the world stage.
The International Framework sets out how the Government's international activities will contribute to increasing sustainable economic growth by:
- Creating the conditions for talented people to live, learn, visit, work and remain in Scotland - so that Scottish population growth matches EU average
- Bringing a sharper economic growth focus to the promotion of Scotland abroad - so that Scottish GDP growth rate matches that of the UK by 2011
- Managing Scotland's reputation as a distinctive global identity, an independent minded and responsible nation at home and abroad, confident of its place in the world