Minister begins visit to Japan with message that Scotland 'is open for business'
External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hylsop is heading to Japan to help convince the country's leaders that Scotland is still "open for business" despite the UK's Brexit vote.
Ms Hyslop will have an intensive week'' of meetings and visits, the Scottish Government said, working to strengthen business and trading links between the two countries, as well as tourism, educational and cultural connections.
Japan is one of the top 20 destinations for Scottish exports, and is the seventh largest source of foreign direct investment, with Japanese firms employing 6,250 people in Scotland.
Ms Hyslop will travel to Tokyo and Nagasaki, and will meet senior figures from companies which are already investing in Scotland, such as car manufacturer Mitsubishi, life sciences firm Kyowa Hakko Kirin and Reprocell, which is involved in stem cell technology.
She said: Japan is a very important international partner for Scotland, with connections going back as far as the 19th century.
Our links in biotechnology, renewable energy, academia, culture and healthcare are growing, and it will be a privilege to play a part in helping to strengthen these further.
Scotland and Japan have much in common - a wealth of expertise, a passion for innovation, a highly educated and skilled workforce, and a desire for increased international collaboration across all sectors.
There will be much to share and much to discuss during my time there, including providing reassurance that despite the UK's vote to leave the EU, Scotland remains a progressive, outward-looking internationalist country that is open for business and ripe for investment. I'm confident our dialogue will deliver mutual benefits.''