Promoting Scotland-US relations

Trade and Investment Minister Ivan McKee is visiting the US to promote links between Scotland and the world’s largest economy.

He will visit Boston and San Francisco, conducting a series of high-level meetings with businesses and potential inward investors. He will also meet trade representatives in Washington DC .

The US remains Scotland’s top export destination country, with an estimated £5.5 billion of exports in 2017 – up by 11.1% from the previous year. It is also the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment into Scotland.

Announcing his visit to strengthen trade and investment links between Scotland and the US, Mr McKee said:
I look forward to visiting the US to create further opportunities for Scottish export businesses and to highlight Scotland as a great place to invest"
 
“The export statistics show how important our trade relationship with the US is for our economy, and our new Export Growth Plan will strengthen this further.
 
“This visit will build on the existing links between our countries and provide new opportunities for us to work together and share expertise in areas such as energy and renewables, life sciences and innovation, and FinTech.
 
"With the uncertainty of Brexit hanging over our economy, it is more important than ever to reassure the world that Scotland is an open and welcoming country and an attractive place to invest in, visit and live.”

Background

The US has been identified as one of Scotland’s priority markets in the Scottish Government’s new Export Growth Plan – ‘Scotland: A Trading Nation’ and on Scotland’s Export Performance Monitor.