Date Created: 09 December 2011
Scotland has secured links with the Chinese city identified as offering Scottish companies the greatest trade and investment opportunities of all China's 274 provincial cities.
Visiting Shenzhen in southern China, First Minister Alex Salmond announced plans to twin the city with a major Scottish city.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is expected to be published building on the potential for collaboration in biotechnology, renewable energy, education and culture.
Speaking at a trade and investment seminar attended by 50 of the top global hi-tec companies in Shenzhen about Scotland's trade and investment potential.
He highlighted that Scottish Development International (SDI) had recognised the unique opportunites Shezhen offers for research and development, new product development and for introducting cutting-edge Scottish innovation to the Chinese market.
SDI believes ambitious Chinese firms are offered fantastic opportunities for growth by partnering with Scottish firms and seizing the potential of Scotland's thriving reputation for innovation and researhc and development.
A delegation of Scottish businesses and educational organisations, led by Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), joined Mr Salmond and SDI in Shenzhen.
Mr Salmond said:
"The challenges of growing today's economy mean that we must be open to opportunities to welcome inward investment. Scotland has a reputation as a world leader in the research skills needed to tackle the many challenges posed by all aspects of engineering, medicine and climate change, and we are well-placed to attract investors and to provide a gateway to the European marketplace.
"Scotland is a land of innovation and invention - but to build strong, long-lasting relations you must develop cultural understanding and friendship between people. Today I met with the Mayor Shenzhen, Mr Xu Qin, where we both agreed to lay strong foundations on links between Scotland and Shenzhen. Those foundations will now be laid through the proposal to twin Shenzhen with a major Scottish city, and a formal agreement to link us both through culture, education and commerce."
Anne MacColl, SDI's Chief Executive, added:
"We have been targeting a number of provincial Chinese cities through strategic engagement plans in recent years, and believe that Shenzhen offers a huge opportunity for Scotland - particularly in terms of R&D and innovation for the technology sectors.
"Like China, Scotland also recognises that innovation and R&D is a vital part of economic development, particularly in key industries like enabling technologies - where Scotland has a real competitive advantage on the global stage.
"This visit will give Scotland, our companies and educational organizations, the opportunity to showcase first hand our expertise and knowledge directly to leading Chinese companies."
Scottish companies joining the delegation in Shenzhen included:
- Anderson Strathern
- Ardaich
- Brodies
- City of Glasgow College
- Click Netherfield
- Falklrk Whisky Distillery
- G7 Consultants
- Gentech
- HSBC
- Midland Electrical
- Original Skin Co
- Platinum Golf
- Pongo for Pets
- University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh College of Art