Recommendation 13

HM Government Not Addressed

DBT works closely with Scottish Government and SDI officials to support exports and investment ensuring business has the benefit of both Governments, and that services aren’t duplicated. Recent joint initiatives include: i. THAIFEX, Food and Drink Trade Fair, Bangkok Thailand – May 2023. Five Scottish companies and trade body Seafood Scotland joined the UK pavilion at Thaifex, funded by DBT Scotland (total 13 UK exhibitors). Companies took part in market familiarisation, importer meetings and retail visits supported by DBT Thailand staff. SDI SE Asia staff joined the group at the exhibition and provided further support through a Global Scot networking event for attending companies. ii. UK Pavilion at ProWein, Dusseldorf Germany – March 2023. DBT Scotland worked with SDI to select and support three Scottish Companies attending and participating as part of a wider UK delegation at the alcoholic beverage trade fair. Connections made to DBT Scotland and overseas teams with a further six Scottish companies exhibiting independently at the show. iii. UK Pavilion at Money 20/20 Amsterdam, Netherlands – June 2023. DBT worked with SDI and FinTech Scotland to form a delegation consisting of eight Scottish companies. iv. Energy Exports Conference, Aberdeen – June 2023. DBT Scotland and SDI led a panel session entitled ‘Investments to bolster the supply chain: opportunities in Hydrogen, Wind and Freeports’ discussing with an international audience trade and investment opportunities in Scotland. DBT’s Scotland, Export, Investment and Trade Policy teams regularly engage with their counterparts in Scottish Government. DBT officials work closely with their colleagues in each devolved administration to ensure that their views are considered in the formulation of the UK’s international trade policy. DAs receive draft text on matters where implementation of the FTA is a devolved competence, on which they can comment. UK policy teams host regular roundtables with the DAs on both reserved and devolved areas of policy and the Department’s devolution team meets weekly with DA counterparts to discuss the department’s work. Additionally, DBT Scotland collaborates closely with SDI on a day-to-day basis to support Scottish companies seeking to export to overseas markets. The UK’s Export Strategy: Made in the UK, Sold to the World was published in November 2021, setting out a 12-point plan including the Export Support Service and the UK Export Academy. The UK Government’s strategy complements the Scottish Export Strategy ‘A Trading Nation’. The UK’s export support offer supports business sectors important to local economies on the world stage through campaigns and by ensuring that UK trade policy reflects all parts of the UK.