According to a report in the Herald, the head of Scottish Development International’s (SDI) Asia Pacific division has been busy promoting the importance of export growth in the Far East.
"Frank Boyland, who along with colleagues based at SDI’s offices in Singapore, Mumbai and Shanghai, has been participating in presentations to Scottish businesses in Glasgow and Inverness, said: “We’re at the tipping point [between western and eastern economic leadership]. Growth from Asia and Australasia is 7.7% per year, in China it is 8.9% this year and will be 8.3% next year. In India it will be 8% this year. Asia is where the future high net-worth individuals will be and the trade flows between Asian countries will be huge. There are great opportunities to partner with Asian companies to get into that [business stream]. Too many CEOs are asleep at the wheel as far as Asia is concerned and our job is to inspire and educate Scottish companies. There has never been a better time to go to Asia.
The most important point in the article is about the time it takes to build up relationships in Asia, as anyone who has worked there will know all too well As Frank Boyland points out
“Our goods are now 40% cheaper in some markets, and people have money in their pockets. But you have to spend a lot of time in these markets, companies that invested in Asia two years ago are best placed, but for others, you have to start somewhere.”
The article also points out that the SDI also prides itself on "its “lean and fit” operation of a strategy of forging strong relationships with senior figures in the top 30 or 40 companies in priority sectors in each country, offering Scottish companies high-calibre introductions. Last year SDI said it had helped more than 300 companies enter Asian markets – 60 in Japan, 60 in India, 80 in China, 60 in southeast Asia, 30 in Korea and 40 in Australia".
And yet here in Wales, the promotion of international development of Welsh businesses is in chaos following the abolition of International Business Wales. Indeed, the main headline about WAG's role in overseas development recently has been the decision to close its main office in the USA.
The Scots must be shaking their heads in incredulity at such chaos from one of their main regional competitors and yet again, you have to ask who on earth is advising the Minister on such matters?
