Building links with Bavaria

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today pledged enhanced economic co-operation with Bavaria as she signed a joint declaration with the German state.

The agreement builds on existing relationships between Scotland and Bavaria and aims to support further co-operation on business, enterprise, innovation and research projects.

The First Minister signed the joint declaration with the Deputy Minister-President of Bavaria, Ilse Aigner, at the City Chambers in Edinburgh.

The meeting forms part of a Bavarian Return Mission to Scotland, reciprocating the mission to Munich led by Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse in October last year.

Scotland has an established connection with Bavaria and has multiple city ‘twinnings’ including Glasgow-Nuremburg and Edinburgh-Munich.

The First Minister said: “I am delighted to be strengthening our partnership with Bavaria by signing this joint declaration and I hope it will lead to many mutually beneficial projects.

“Scotland has a strong relationship with Germany and is committed to further enhancing our cultural, economic and political links. The implications of Brexit mean it is more important than ever that we maintain productive relationships with our European partners.”

Deputy Minister-President Aigner said: "Scotland and Bavaria have fostered friendly and good relations for many years. Today we are adding a more economic driven component to our cooperation. We give business relations, innovation, research and investment opportunities a new momentum. Scotland and Bavaria have much in common. And together we are heading towards a bright future."

The Scottish Government has set out plans to open an innovation and investment hub in Berlin to raise Scotland’s profile in Germany, promoting collaboration and cooperation between Scotland and Germany in a number of areas.

The joint declaration fits with Scotland CAN DO, our vision to become a world-leading entrepreneurial & innovative nation.