This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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US visit by Deputy First Minister
12/01/2004
Boston, New York and Houston are the ports of call on a US visit by Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace which kicks off today.
The programme includes supporting Scottish companies breaking into US markets and promoting Scotland to key US inward investors - with a particular focus on life sciences, financial services and the energy sector.
The Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning will also:
- Participate in the inaugural Robert Burns Memorial Lecture to be delivered by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, in New York (Tuesday)
- Hold a breakfast meeting with senior representatives of the New York Stock Exchange (Wednesday)
- Attend a ceremony at NASA in Houston for Scottish youngsters who are graduating from the Scottish Space School Foundation (Friday). The Foundation is a partnership between the Executive, Careers Scotland and Scottish Enterprise which aims to inspire young people to consider careers in science, engineering and technology.
Mr Wallace said:
"This week I will meet some of the most influential partners and potential partners that Scotland has, including the New York Stock Exchange.
"I will be talking to Scottish companies in New England and Texas who have taken the steps to expand and succeed in US markets, supported by Scottish Development International.
"In Texas, I will also be finding out if the young Scots attending the NASA Space Camp are set to be the scientists and engineers of tomorrow.
"I'm delighted to be involved in the Robert Burns Memorial Lecture, where the UN Secretary General will speak on the theme of Burns' vision of the brotherhood of man. This will be a superb international platform to promote Scottish culture and the very best of Scotland."