Scottish ministers launch promotional week in USA

A campaign to boost Scotland’s economy and attract overseas investment has been launched in North America.

Ministers will spend a week travelling throughout the USA and Canada promoting Scotland as a modern and dynamic nation. The countries are two of Scotland’s largest markets.

Minister for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell, and Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Jim Mather will undertake a series of business meetings and promotional engagements, working with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International (SDI).

Scotland Week 2010 will coincide with the USA’s annual Tartan Day celebrations.

Fiona Hyslop said: “Canada and the US are tremendously important to Scotland's economy. The US is our largest export market, largest inward investor and largest tourist market.

“The focus of Scotland Week 2010 is to maintain confidence in Scotland as an internationally competitive business location and promote Scotland as a must-see, must-return visitor destination.”

In New York, she will start the seventh annual Scotland Run in Central Park, host a reception at an exhibition by renowned Scottish photographer Harry Benson and promote the Scottish textiles industry at the Dressed to Kilt fashion show.

David Smith, Interim Chief Executive of Scottish Development International, said: “Scotland's track record of innovation, invention and enterprise has helped us to attract significant US investment in the past.

“This year, we are on a mission to showcase Scotland’s capabilities in key sectors such as renewables and life sciences.”

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