This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Minister visits Amazon distribution centre
12/10/2004
Scotland will be aggressive in pursuing the kind of inward investment which can help us to thrive in the world economy, Deputy First Minister and Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace said today.
The Minister was speaking as he visited amazon.co.uk's new Gourock Distribution Centre, which is creating around 300 new jobs in Inverclyde. Mr Wallace is due to visit the company's world headquarters in Seattle as part of his visit to the USA from October 25-29.
Mr Wallace said that foreign direct investment is rising again for the first time in a number of years and that he will be using his forthcoming visit to the United States to fight Scotland's corner. He will meet with a number of companies across the United States - some with long-term investments in Scotland and others we would like to consider Scotland for future investment.
Speaking at Amazon in Gourock, Jim Wallace said:
"The world market in foreign direct investment is rising again for the first time since the year 2000, and Scotland must catch the tide. Inward investment is not a thing of the past. It still has an important role to play in growing Scotland's economy.
"It is for these reasons that we will continue to play aggressively for the kind of inward investment that will help Scotland to thrive in the world economy. We already know that Scotland can no longer compete on cost alone - and so we must ensure that we provide investors like Amazon with a high quality business environment that is adaptable and responsive to the needs of that individual business.
"Many of our top business people have gained invaluable experience working for multinational firms here in Scotland - and later have been able to apply the same innovative approaches in Scottish companies. And we need to continue to be able to offer this kind of opportunity in the future, rather than see our native talent lost to blue-chip firms who have no links to Scotland."
US Programme
Jim Wallace's visit to the USA begins in Seattle on Monday, October 25 when he will be meeting with Amazon, Microsoft and Cranium.
On Tuesday, October 26 he moves on to California where he will meet with companies such as National Semiconducter, Sun Microsystems and Cadence who already have a significant presence in Scotland.
At Sun Microsysytems the Minister will meet Scottish university students involved with the Sun Start programme.
While in California Mr Wallace will also host a reception to promote Scotland's international image overseas. The Fresh Talent/Promotion of Scotland event, which will take place in the British Consulate in San Francisco, will be attended by the business community, academics and the media, as well as those with Scottish connections.
Later in the week the Minister will travel to Ohio where he will meet with NCR, who have a long standing investment in Scotland.
During his visit Mr Wallace will also meet with a number of Scottish companies who have set up in the United States. These include CityIS in Seattle and Nallatech and Critical Blue in San Jose.