First Minister in Paris

8 Feb 2010 09:25 AM

First Minister Alex Salmond will today undertake a series of high-level meetings with senior executives from France's financial services and energy industries and the country's Minister for European Affairs.

He will hold round-table discussions with French energy firms working in subsea and marine renewables, host a meeting with executives from many of France's key financial services companies and unveil a new premium food marketing campaign.

The FM will discuss cultural and educational links between Scotland and France with the Minister for Europe before attending the Royal Scottish National Orchestra's concert at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées - only the second performance in the city in the national performing company's 119-year history.

Mr Salmond said:

"Even as our respective teams take to the rugby field, Scotland's Auld Alliance with France represents a strong, enduring bond between these two historic nations. Those ties - cultural and economic - go back many hundreds of years and remain as important as ever.

"France is Scotland's third largest export destination, worth an estimated £1.5 billion to our economy. More Scotch whisky is sold in France than in any other country. Alongside multi-million pound food and drink exports, Scotland has strong sales across manufacturing, engineering and financial services. At the same time, French companies continue to invest in key Scottish sectors such as financial services and energy.

"This is a very important opportunity for the Scottish Government, working with Scottish Development International, to further strengthen our relationships with leading French companies in some of the most valuable sectors of our economy.

"I am also delighted to be attending the RSNO's concert being held in Paris as part of its prestigious European tour, which will strengthen Scotland's cultural reputation and further enhance the Orchestra's international standing as a performing company 'par excellence'. The fact that they are playing in Paris, under the direction of their French conductor symbolises the enduring spirit of the Auld Alliance."

The First Minister will host a pre-concert reception at the UK Ambassador's Residence, with classic Scottish fayre served to guests before the RSNO concert in the evening.

The RSNO, led by Music Director Stéphane Denève and joined by Grammy-winning American violinist Hilary Hahn, has just embarked on a six-date tour of Europe, taking them from Baden-Baden in Germany to the Serbian capital, Belgrade. In 2008, France was Scotland's third top export destination after the US and Netherlands with the French export market estimated to be worth £1.5 billion for Scotland that year.

The value of exported business & financial services from Scotland to France was £120m in 2008. The Scottish Government is providing £80,000 from its International Touring Fund to support the RSNO's performances in Europe.

The direct value of inward investment by French companies in Scotland was around £5m in 2006-07 but rose to just over £9.5m in 2008-09.

Recent examples of this investment include: