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Minister comments on export figures
07/10/2009
Scottish manufactured export sales fell by 0.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2009 and by 8.5 per cent over the year until the end of June.
Commenting on the figures, published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician, Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said:
"Reduced demand in the global economy continues to affect Scotland's exports. Any decline in the sale of Scottish products overseas is clearly disappointing, but the situation mirrors trends elsewhere and the rate of decline has continued to ease since the last statistics were published in July.
"The figures demonstrate the Scottish Government is absolutely right to focus on our Economic Recovery Plan - which is supporting up to 15,000 jobs across Scotland.
"A crucial part of the plan is the expansion of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS), doubling the number of companies this vital service can reach. It is this kind of direct support that can help our exporters remain strongly competitive across the world in good times and bad.
"We have also accelerated 293 million pounds of capital spending into this financial year, providing a direct and timely stimulus to sectors including construction and manufacturing. Bringing forward further spending from 2011/12 into next year would help us build on the good work already underway to support economic recovery. The Chancellor should make this happen when he delivers the UK Pre-Budget Report this autumn.
"Initiatives of this kind can help Scotland's manufacturing sector - and our economy as whole - emerge strongly from the global recession."