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In recent years we’ve seen growing interest from the Asia-Pacific region, as well as significant investments confirmed by large investors from that part of the world. A good example is Japanese firm Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI), which is building a £350m cable-manufacturing factory at Nigg.
Against this backdrop, I accompanied Vicky Grant, our head of international trade and investment, on a trip to Asia-Pacific last week to further promote investment opportunities in our region. We travelled across three countries in six days by plane, high-speed train and car.
The trip was arranged by our colleagues in Scottish Development International (SDI) based in Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing to strengthen relations with existing and potential investors.
Our first meeting was at the British Embassy Tokyo with Julia Longbottom CMG, UK Ambassador to Japan. She has been in office since 2021 and has been very supportive of SDI’s presence in Japan.
We discussed her recent trip to Scotland, including a visit to Nigg and meetings with Sumitomo. The meeting was a great opportunity to acknowledge the Ambassador’s support for Japanese investments into the renewable energy industry in the HIE area.
At the embassy we also met with Dr Stephen Baker OBE, Scottish Government trade and investment envoy to Japan. Stephen has played a leading role in shaping and delivering SDI’s work across Asia Pacific.