Scottish Secretary to journey overseas to strengthen defence ties and enhance commerce | EUROtoday

The Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander, is embarking on a major go to to the Indo-Pacific area within the coming days, aiming to bolster defence ties and stimulate commerce with Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. His itinerary over the following week contains conferences with authorities and enterprise leaders, a transfer he anticipates will unlock new alternatives for Scottish enterprises in these key markets.

Beyond fostering financial hyperlinks, Mr Alexander is predicted to discover potential collaborations in naval shipbuilding and superior defence manufacturing. The go to underscores a twin concentrate on growing Scottish exports and attracting essential inward funding again to Scotland.

A notable facet of the journey will see the Scottish Secretary attend two worldwide performances of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, scheduled for Auckland and Brisbane, including a cultural dimension to the diplomatic efforts.

The Scotland Office has highlighted the historic significance of the journey, noting that Mr Alexander would be the first Scottish Secretary to go to New Zealand in current instances.

Speaking forward of the commerce mission, Mr Alexander emphasised the aim of his journey: “This visit is about speaking up for Scottish businesses and Scottish exporters.” He additional asserted, “Scotland benefits from the strength, reach and connections that come from being part of the UK.”

He careworn the significance of worldwide alliances amid present international uncertainties, stating it has “never been more important to stand shoulder to shoulder” with the UK’s closest allies. This, he defined, is to discover “how we can deepen our defence cooperation and work together to keep people safe.”

Mr Alexander additionally pledged to champion Scottish commerce, including: “I will also be banging the drum for Scottish business. From whisky and seafood to financial services and renewable energy technology, Scotland has world-class products and expertise that are in demand across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.” He concluded that the go to represents “an opportunity to open doors for Scottish exporters, attract the investment that creates economic growth and well paid jobs back at home, and show that Scotland is open for business on the global stage.”