The Scottish Chambers of Commerce network drive to push Scottish businesses across the world has full backing from Ayrshire and its diverse range of sectors operating in the region.
Previously Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce CEO Val Russell, was part of a trade party exploring the vast opportunities available for Scottish businesses in the Far East.
This has already resulted in a visit from the Chair of British China Chamber of Commerce and the opportunity to meet the buyers of Jereh, a large China based company who is looking at expanding their supply chain.
To develop further markets Val joined forces with North Ayrshire Council and members from across Ayrshire to meet with the US Consulate to learn more of how businesses in the area can do more with their counterparts in the States.
Val gave an overview of the work of the Chamber and highlighted the many companies based here who produce goods for markets throughout the world.
Principal Officer at the US Consulate, Susan Wilson, spoke of the historical trading links between the two countries.
n For more than a decade, the United States has been Scotland’s top international export destination country, with an estimated £4.6 billion exports in 2015.
n The Unites States continues to be Scotland’s number one provider of foreign investment: in 2016, 35 percent of all FDI projects into Scotland were of US origin.
n There are almost 600 US companies operating in Scotland, providing approximately 90,000 jobs.
Doing business with the United States
n The US is the world’s largest consumer market; a GDP of $18 trillion and 325 million people.
n The US is responsible for a quarter of global household consumption – in 2014, US families bought $11.5 trillion worth of goods and services.
n The US is still the number one choice for foreign investment, thanks in no small part to the UK. As of the end of 2014, the UK had invested $449 billion in the US – $76 billion more than our next largest investor, Japan. This investment supports more than one million jobs across the Unites States.
This dialogue with the Consulate will continue and if any business needs support getting into the US market please do not hesitate to contact us and we will pass onto their officers.
The Chamber will also be circulating a regular newsletter from the Consulate highlighting opportunities to our membership.
