Scottish seafood ‘key to prosperity’

SCOTLAND’S First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has hailed the ‘astonishing growth’ of seafood and whisky exports to China at the start of her official visit to Beijing this week.
Scottish seafood – mainly farmed salmon – continues to be Scotland’s chief food export to China, valued at £50 million in 2017, up 12-fold in ten years. Whisky, meanwhile, is worth £61 million.
Promoting Scottish industries is the key objective of Sturgeon’s trip, which also takes in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Scottish farmed salmon exports to China were valued at £44 million last year, according to HMRC figures.
‘The astonishing growth in Scottish food and drink exports to China in recent years is testament not only to the high quality of our food and drink produce, but also a stark reminder of the huge opportunities open to us in the Chinese market,’ she said.
‘There is no doubt that, for a country of five million people, Scotland punches well above its weight in terms of international brand recognition and cultural influence.
‘Making the most of these strengths is absolutely key to our future prosperity – but it can have much wider benefits as well.
‘The more we can strengthen our overseas links and deepen our relationships, the more opportunity we have to promote our values of social justice and human rights around the world.’
Picture: Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon