IAN Blackford has said “opportunities to boost economic productivity are there to be seized” as he launched plans to create a roadmap for Scotland’s green industrial future.
Speaking in Glasgow on Tuesday the former SNP leader at Westminster and business ambassador for the party said that the move to decarbonise the economy presented “enormous” opportunities for Scotland.
“I have commissioned two independent experts, Sir Martin Donnelly and Professor Dominic Houlder, to identify key opportunities to boost Scotland’s economic productivity, and develop a roadmap for policy makers that can change the landscape for green industrial development in Scotland.
“Global moves towards decarbonisation give Scotland an enormous opportunity to be at the forefront of the green industrial revolution, building on our existing strengths in technological innovation, research and development.
"But in order to maximise the benefits of that unrivalled potential, we need the right infrastructure in place and we need to create the right environment for investment."
He added: “I am delighted that Sir Martin Donnelly and Professor Dominic Houlder have agreed to undertake this piece of research. As part of that process, they are in Edinburgh and Glasgow this week to conduct a series of interviews with key stakeholders in the business and academic communities. They will present their conclusions in an independent report later this year.”
Donnelly is a former permanent secretary at the Department for International Trade and the current president of commercial aircraft manufacturer Boeing Europe.
He said: “Under any political scenario, unlocking Scotland’s potential as a high value added, high productivity economy is critical, and I look forward to meeting with stakeholders over the coming days.”
Houlder, an adjunct professor of strategy and entrepreneurship at London Business Scotland, said he would be working with stakeholders to discuss how Scotland can leverage its existing industries to boost growth.
“Scotland has an internationally recognised competitive strength in higher and further education,” he said.
“We will be meeting with academic leaders, entrepreneurs, and leaders of large businesses to assess how cutting edge research and development can be leveraged more effectively, identify constraints to faster growth, and suggest ways to create a more enabling environment for investment.”
This is Blackford’s first major announcement since becoming the SNP’s business ambassador.
Before becoming a politician he spent more than 20 years working in the finance industry.
Since leaving the party’s top job at Westminster he has said that he would be devoting himself to making the case for Scottish independence to the business community.
