Trade Envoys appointed

SCOTLAND is extending its worldwide business reach this St Andrew’s Day, with the appointment of a team of trade envoys to champion international trading.

As announced in the Programme for Government, the appointees will promote and represent Scotland’s export interests, and strengthen local market knowledge. 

They are –

• Ainsley Mann (Indonesia) - former CEO of Coca-Cola Bottlers (Holding) Co Ltd in China and now heading up Hong Kong-based Swire Properties in Indonesia. He is also the current Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia.
• Wendy Alexander (Scotland) - Vice Principal at the University of Dundee, and leads the University’s international strategy. A former MSP and Enterprise Minister, and a member of the Scottish Government’s new Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board.
• Martyn O’Reilly (Poland) – prominent Wealth Manager and former Deputy Chairman of the British Polish Chamber of Commerce
• Nick Maclean (Dubai/UAE) - Executive Director and Managing Director of Middle Eastern Business at CB Richard Ellis, the largest commercial real estate services and investment firm in the world

The team of overseas and Scotland-based envoys will help to identify specific business opportunities in new overseas markets where there is currently untapped potential. They will also support Scottish exporting interests more generally through trade-related visits and events. A particular opportunity includes supporting preparations for Scotland’s participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said:

“Trade and export is vital to our economy and we have brought these experts on board to help us prepare to meet the challenges of the future.

“We already have strong partnerships throughout the world, but it is important we continue to cultivate these and have people in place who can promote Scotland to international businesses and markets.

“Scotland is a small country which continually punches above its weight, and it will be the job of the new trade envoys to promote our businesses and skills even further on the world stage.”

Neil Francis, Interim Managing Director of Scottish Development International, said:

“International trade and investment play a vital role in growing Scotland’s economy and there is a huge amount of work going on across Government, SDI, the Scottish Chambers network and industry to help make sure more Scottish companies are aware of and benefit from the opportunities that exist in overseas markets.

“These new trade envoys are a welcome addition and we look forward to working with them to help open up more new opportunities overseas and encourage more companies to take steps to export.”