Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Deferred
Require FCDO to publish strategy guiding embassies on promoting Scotland's modern and traditional brand.
Recommendation
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) should publish a strategy, to be circulated across its international diplomatic network, which sets out guidance and expectations for embassies on holding events to mark Scotland’s key dates, St Andrew’s Day and Burns Night. This document should give clear direction on what current UK Departmental (e.g. FCDO, Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and Department for Business and Trade) priorities are for promoting Scotland internationally, and how both the modern and traditional aspects of the Scottish brand should be incorporated as part of this activity. In its response to this report, the UK Government should agree a definition of the Scottish brand to be advanced by it internationally, followed by annual reporting updates on embassy activity promoting Scotland that has taken place each year. The Committee recognises the interest of successive Scottish Governments in this area which currently resides in the portfolio of Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs—we therefore urge the Scottish Government adopt a similar approach. (Paragraph 18) International Strategy for Scotland
Government response summary AI-generated
The government discusses potential collaboration for Tartan Week 2024 in New York, with detailed plans to be developed, but does not commit to publishing a broader strategy, defining the Scottish brand, or providing annual reporting updates for embassies as recommended.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
Promoting Scotland Internationally 3 iii. Four Nations Festival of Flavours, France. To coincide with food and drink trade fair, SIAL Paris, HMA France Dame Menna Rawlings, hosted a Four Nations Festival of Flavours at her Residence in Paris, offering the UK companies attending the trade fair an opportunity to meet with the international buyers in a more intimate setting than simply the trade fair itself. To promote Scotland’s brand internationally, DBT Scotland has experts covering the following sectors: i. Agricultural, Food and Drink ii. Healthcare and Life Sciences iii. Energy and Clean Technology iv. Advanced Manufacturing v. Financial, Professional and Business Services The team’s structure reflects the diverse exporting strengths of Scotland. Sector experts are embedded within DBT’s UK Sector teams and aligned with the established and innovative strengths of Scotland ensuring the nation’s economic potential is supported internationally by the UK Government. They collaborate closely with Scottish Development International’s (SDI) sector teams to align activity. For instance, where UK sectoral trade missions are relevant to Scotland’s strengths, DBT and SDI cooperate to identify Scottish companies that would benefit from participating. International Strategy for Scotland
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