Funding to build links as Chambers calls for Scotland to rethink international trading alliances

Scottish businesses will forge new global trading alliances thanks to new support from the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce will receive up to £400,000 to deliver permanent trading alliances between Chambers in Scotland and the international network of Chambers, and to support new business-led trade missions.

The move comes after the SCC said Scottish business must “take the initiative” by strengthening direct links with businesses overseas as the Brexit process unfolds.

Chair of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Nora Senior told guests at the network’s 24thAnnual Business Address in Glasgow last night that the Chambers’ priority was to create a “unique Scottish model” of international business-to-business outreach that can withstand any changes to the international trade regime brought about in the process of leaving the EU.

Making her final speech as SCC Chair, Senior told an audience including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland Lord Dunlop, of the need for Scottish business to be “more vocal” in outlining its Brexit-related interests to the UK and Scottish Governments.

She called for the event of Brexit to be used as a stimulus to:

The First Minister also addressed the meeting in a speech that was preceded by the announcement of a trading alliance between Chambers and their members committing to shared business priorities and specific trade plans.

The First Minister also confirmed that Senior, will be one of the first members of the Scottish Government’s new Board of Trade to encourage new companies to internationalise.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Internationalisation is a key part of our economic strategy and we are stepping up efforts to raise Scotland’s profile and encourage more Scottish businesses to export. Scotland’s ability to benefit from international trade depends hugely on our continued place in the European single market - the biggest of its kind in the world - and we are exploring all avenues to maintain our membership of it.

“At the same time, we are establishing new hubs in London, Dublin, Brussels and Berlin to boost our business profile, while we will double the number of people working for Scottish Development International on mainland Europe. We are also appointing trade envoys and creating a new board of trade to promote exporters overseas and encourage new companies to internationalise. But we can still do more.

“The membership of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, more than 11,000 companies, already has ties to more than 180 countries and so are ideally placed to make new overseas links with businesses and Chambers, which will complement the activities of Scottish Development International.

“The Scottish Government will provide £400,000 to the Chambers to support new business-led trade missions and forge new trading alliances between Chambers here and abroad. That is a boost to the resource already committed by the Chamber network and will contribute to our shared efforts to boost internationalisation.

“I am also delighted to confirm that Nora Senior has agreed to be one of the first members of the board of trade, a good indication of the level of expertise that we will be able to draw on in the years ahead.”

Welcoming the Scottish Government’s support, Nora Senior said: “For the SCC Network, our highest priority is to make sure that Scotland remains open for business to the rest of the world. That means being able to trade and invest easily with international markets and Scotland remaining an attractive destination for inward investment.

“We have to take the initiative, Scotland needs to use the opportunities this exit presents to become a passionate advocate for international trade – global markets and internationalisation.”

“Our future as a trading nation now depends on business and government working together to answer some of the tough questions about how best to reimagine, rebuild and deepen our business, cultural, social and economic relationships around the globe.

“The is the perfect time to look at a unique Scottish model – a public and private sector working together, creating stronger links between Scotland and our overseas trading partners. Both business and government need to move forward at pace, collaboratively, to mobilise our respective strengths, to do what’s best for the Scottish economy and forge a path of delivering new international trade deals for Scotland.

“The success of our international focus will depend upon building a solid domestic economy and every action of our Scottish and UK Governments must be actively and demonstrably in pursuit of that goal. Scotland’s economic growth was not good enough well before the EU Referendum and continues to underperform the UK as a whole. Scotland must become a more competitive and attractive place where more businesses are created and which is attractive to inward investors.”

Liz Cameron OBE, director and chief cxecutive, said: “Today’s announcement marks a significant new step in our long-standing drive to use the power of the international Chambers network to drive more exports from Scotland. The Scottish Government’s very welcome support will help us to capitalise on the excellent work which our Network have been doing to build relationships with their counterparts in Italy, Iceland, the US, Mexico, Iran and many more. We are now ready to turbocharge that effort.

“It has long been our belief that exploiting grass roots business-to-business international connectivity via the unparalleled reach of international Chambers of Commerce has the potential to deliver a revolution in the way our SMEs trade overseas. Combined with the support of Scottish Development International and the influence of Scotland’s international diaspora in key target markets, this will put our network in a position to have real measurable impact in boosting Scotland’s exports – resulting in jobs, growth and wealth.”