This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Scotland-Estonia relationship
21/03/2004
Deputy Finance Minister Tavish Scott today began a two-day visit to Estonia where he will meet with the Estonian Deputy Prime Minster and Scots-Estonian business interests.
In Tallinn, as he launched the Estonian programme of Crossroads for Ideas, he said exchanging ideas, experiences and skills would help Scots and Estonians build new business and cultural networks.
Crossroads for Ideas is an initiative to promote awareness of the UK, including Scotland, in Estonia and other central European Accession States. It aims to create mutually beneficial relationships between young people in the UK and their counterparts in central Europe. It will run in the UK and in central Europe throughout 2004.
The events range from business seminars to fashion shows; from film festivals to computer game design workshops, and includes students and young professionals from all the different countries exchanging ideas and experiences. As part of the programme young scientists from central Europe will be invited to a workshop on bioinformatics in Scotland this summer.
Mr Scott said:
"I am delighted to be in Estonia for the launch of Crossroads for Ideas which is an exciting and innovative initiative to welcome Estonia and the other new Member States to the European Union, and to help encourage closer partnership working between our countries.
"The range of opportunities for partnership between Scotland and Estonia's business, tourism, science, education and arts sectors is wide and far-reaching. Crossroads for ideas will allow both countries to benefit by bringing together talented young people from Estonia and Scotland and encouraging mutually beneficial partnerships."
During his visit to Estonia Mr Scott will:
- launch the crossroads for ideas initiative in Estonia
- meet the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy, Communications and Transport
- visit E-Park (a Scottish-Estonian joint venture)
- visit Enterprise Estonia (combined tourism/enterprise agency)
- meet local businessmen at Estonia's Scottish Club
Mr Scott added:
"Businesses in Scotland and Estonia can only benefit from increased partnership. I'm seeing for myself how Estonia has already become a magnet for a small concentration of Scottish companies, and I encourage other Scottish businesses and industries to look to Estonia for further business opportunities.
"Scotland warmly welcomes EU Enlargement which provides a historic opportunity for the creation of new partnerships as well as the revitalisation of existing links. Scotland and Estonia have long been good friends and I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome Estonia to the EU on behalf of the Scottish Executive and the wider UK."
The accession of 10 new Member States to the European Union will take place on May 1. As well as Estonia new member states include: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.