Scottish Development International (SDI) is making moves to ensure its manufacturing sector remains robust, particularly in sub-sectors such as renewable energy technology and pharmaceuticals.
SDI, a joint venture between the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise has demonstrated its efficiency in safeguarding and promoting Scottish manufacturing by safeguarding roughly 7,000 jobs in companies with operations in the country.
A spokesperson for the organisation said that it had managed to boost the international trade prospects of over 1,000 Scottish companies in the 2011/12 financial year.
Out of the 7,000 jobs created or safeguarded last year, 1,800 were ‘high-value’ R&D jobs, in which the employee earns roughly £34,000 a year.
A whole host of manufacturers plan to expand in Scotland, with GlaxoSmithKline planning to spend £100m expanding facilities in Montrose and Irvine.
Another development was the opening of a £12.5m offshore wind technology centre at Strathclyde Business Park.
SDI chief executive Anne MacColl told The Scottish Herald: “We know that a strong international strategy can completely transform a business by helping it to increase productivity, improve innovation performance and diversify its customer base.
“Equally important is building on Scotland’s success as a global location. Scotland has an outstanding international reputation and investments last year alone from global companies such as Avaloq, Samsung Heavy Industries and Gamesa are testament to this,” she added.
