Scotland appoints first trade envoy to UAE

Abu Dhabi / WAM

The Scottish government has appointed its first Scottish trade envoy to the UAE and in the MENA region, reflecting the significance of the UAE to Scotland and the UK.
Nick Maclean will serve in the position as part of Scotland’s plans to extend its worldwide business reach with the appointment of a team of trade envoys to champion international trading, as well as promote and represent Scotland’s export interests, and strengthen local market knowledge.
The team of overseas and Scotland-based envoys will help to identify specific business opportunities in new overseas markets where there is currently untapped potential. They will also support Scottish exporting interests more generally through trade-related visits and events. A particular opportunity includes supporting preparations for Scotland’s participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown said, “Trade and export is vital to our economy and we have brought these experts on board to help us prepare to meet the challenges of the future. We already have strong partnerships throughout the world, but it is important we continue to cultivate these and have people in place who can promote Scotland to international businesses and markets. Scotland is a small country which continually punches above its weight, and it will be the job of the new trade envoys to promote our businesses and skills even further on the world stage.”
Neil Francis, Interim Managing Director of Scottish Development International, said, “International trade and investment play a vital role in growing Scotland’s economy and there is a huge amount of work going on across Government, the Scottish Chambers network and industry to help make sure more Scottish companies are aware of and benefit from the opportunities that exist in overseas markets. These new trade envoys are a welcome addition and we look forward to working with them to help open up more new opportunities overseas and encourage more companies to take steps to export.”
Nicholas MacLean said, “I am deeply honoured to have been asked to take up the position of Scotland’s Trade Envoy to the United Arab Emirates. I have enjoyed the privilege of living and working in the UAE for several years and I can see, first-hand, the opportunities to help grow our
commercial relationship.”
already built on the foundation of mutual respect, ambition and the long standing trading and investment history that has so clearly benefitted both countries.”