This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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G8 summit to meet at Gleneagles
11/06/2004
First Minister Jack McConnell hailed the announcement that the next G8 Summit will be held at Gleneagles as a tremendous privilege and opportunity for Scotland.
Welcoming the announcement by the UK Government, Mr McConnell said:
"Bringing the world's leaders to Gleneagles is not only a privilege; it is further recognition of the international reputation of Scotland and its people and of our excellent facilities and infrastructure. The summit will provide a unique opportunity to raise the profile of Scotland as a destination, a business location, and as a potential place to live. We will seize that opportunity and showcase our ambitions for Scotland.
"Over the coming months, we will be working closely with partners throughout Scotland and with the UK Government to ensure the event is a success. This is an opportunity for a confident, modern Scotland - an opportunity that the whole country should get behind and welcome."
Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace said the event will also boost Scotland's economy. He added:
" VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise are already playing an active part in planning the summit and Scotland's business leaders have begun to think about how they can contribute and benefit. We and the enterprise bodies will be working very closely with all the business organisations and enterprise networks over the next year to secure the maximum economic benefits for Scotland from the summit.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said we recognised that there will be some concerns about the potential impact of the event. She added:
"The Police and other law enforcement agencies are well equipped to ensure that the 2005 Summit is a peaceful and safe one. They will, if necessary, be able to call on resources from elsewhere in the UK. We have a first-class Police Service in Scotland who have experience of policing major international events, such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in 1997. I have every confidence that they will rise to this challenge."
Jack Perry, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said:
"The selection of Scotland as the location for the next G8 Summit provides a wonderful opportunity to further enhance Scotland's reputation worldwide. In addition to the direct economic benefits which will accrue from the event itself, we will be working with our partners in the Scottish Executive, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and VisitScotland and business organisations to ensure that Scotland maximises the economic benefits of increased international profile and awareness of what Scotland has to offer both as a business location and tourist destination."
Philip Riddle, Chief Executive of VisitScotland said:
"Hosting such a prestigious event as the G8 summit at Gleneagles provides a fantastic opportunity to highlight Scotland on the world stage. The decision also speaks volumes for our country's international standing; featuring as it will, some of the world's most influential decision makers.
"Perth and Kinross is a beautiful region and will prove to be a superb advert for Scotland overall. VisitScotland is now looking forward to playing our part in ensuring the event is a huge success which further bolsters the country's profile across the world.''
The UK will hold the presidency of the G8 in 2005 and the UK Government has chosen Gleneagles to host the Summit. The G8 is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, Russia, the UK and the United States.
In addition, Scottish Universities, working with colleagues elsewhere in the UK, will be holding a conference for academics from the G8 countries next summer. Hosted by the University of Glasgow, this will be a tremendous opportunity for Scotland's higher education community to demonstrate on a world stage the breadth and depth of their expertise.