UK Government funds new ‘Brand Scotland' trade mission push
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said the aim was to leverage Scotland's already strong international reputation.
'No matter where you go in the world, when you tell people you are Scottish their eyes light up,' he said. 'We want to give Scotland a global platform to sell everything our brilliant country has to offer — from whisky and seafood to our world-class services.'
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In recent weeks, the UK Government has secured trade deals with the United States, India and the European Union.
Mr Murray said this presented 'a huge opportunity for Scotland's economy — with the most populous country in the world, the richest country in the world and our most important market'.
He added: 'The Scotland Office will be Scotland's window to the world.
'That is why I am so excited about this partnership with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, which will create valuable opportunities for Scottish firms and help kickstart economic growth as part of our plan for change.
'I have already been to Norway, Singapore, Malaysia and the United States to bang the drum for Scotland — and with this partnership, we will take businesses to even more markets, starting next week with a trade mission to Spain.'
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray (Image: PA)
Liz Cameron, chief executive of the SCC, said: 'We are excited to work with the Scotland Office. This grant will empower us to deliver impactful trade missions that strengthen Scotland's global presence, help more businesses trade internationally and encourage more investment into Scotland.'
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The UK–India free trade agreement is expected to sharply reduce India's steep import duties on Scotch whisky.
Scotch remains Scotland's most famous export — worth £5.6 billion in 2023, with around 1.35bn bottles shipped worldwide.
Yet India has traditionally imposed a 150% tariff on imports, severely limiting Scotch's reach. It will now be halved to 75%, dropping to 40% after 10 years.
The Scotch Whisky Association believe the deal could result in £1bn of extra exports in five years, plus 1,200 new jobs.
The new agreement with the European Union, has been welcomed by exporters.
The Scottish salmon industry has estimated that between 2019 and 2023, Scottish Salmon export values experienced a net loss of around £75m.
The deal with the EU should make it significantly easier to sell Scottish goods to European markets.
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