SEBG News
Rural partnership launches bid to promote economic growth
20th November 2006Against a backdrop of an international OECD Conference on Investment Priorities for Rural Development hosted in Edinburgh, a partnership of key rural organisations representing rural business interests and Scottish Enterprise today (Friday 20th October) announced they are to join forces in an effort to promote economic growth in Scotland’s countryside.
An agreement of co-operation has been reached between the Scottish Estates
Business Group, the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, the
National Farmers Union Scotland and Scottish Enterprise and will be used
as a platform to encourage rural economic development.
The agreement has been developed within the framework of Smart Successful Scotland, the Rural Development Strategy for Scotland and supporting the aims and objectives of the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture.
The organisations involved have pledged to:-
- Promote, co-ordinate and develop activities for rural economic growth
- Undertake joint initiatives
- Share information
and best practice
David Gass, Chairman of Scottish Enterprise’s Rural Group, said: “This is an unprecedented agreement between leading organisations which are demonstrating real commitment to a shared objective of improving economic growth in rural Scotland.
“Scotland’s rural areas face a number of specific economic issues and our aim is to ensure that rural areas remain well positioned to both play an active role in Scotland’s economic success as well as benefit from any future growth.This objective cannot be achieved by any one organisation and we believe that this agreement is an important step in the direction of securing a united approach in tackling this crucial issue.”
The priorities for the next year identified in the agreement are:-
- The Scottish Rural Development Plan - communicate the business development agenda
- Encourage rural enterprise to be more innovative, customer focused, market orientated and less risk averse;
- Facilitate collaborative supply chains;
- Develop better understanding of the rural contribution to metro regions and the wider Scottish economy;
- Improve co-ordination and validation of rural economic outcomes
- Address infrastructure and institutional barriers to rural economic development.
Richard Williamson, of Scottish Estates Business Group, said: “The strength of the work throughout this new partnership lies in our having a contribution from practical land professionals and rural businessmen complemented by the skills of Scotland’s enterprise network.”
Andy Robertson, chief executive of NFUS said: “During the last couple of days, we have heard how the future of rural areas depends upon economic growth in traditional areas such as agriculture and tourism as well as new sectors like renewable energy. Our organisations agree that rural communities which are thriving economically will be in a strong position to deliver a range of wider benefits from the environment to a successful food industry.”
Jonnie Hall, Head of Rural Policy, Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, said: “Our shared aim is a vibrant rural Scotland. Businesses that are based in the countryside are best placed to shape the socio-economic and environmental landscape of rural Scotland, and benefits for everyone can be attained sooner and more effectively when built on a platform of economic growth. The SRPBA is committed to reaching this goal and is ready to play its part.”
For further information contact:
Gordon Robertson at Media House on 0131 555 1015
