Scotland Office
Scotland Office Minister Andrew Dunlop attended the World Expo in Milan as UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) undertakes a week long programme of events focused around Life Sciences at the UK Pavilion. These include leadership events, meet the buyer events and networking receptions. A number of similar themed events have taken place over a number of weeks at the Expo 2015, all geared towards an overall target of winning business worth 1billion to the UK over time.
The UK is the most popular location for European life science headquarters and the number one destination for Foreign Direct Investment. Scotland has a long-established international reputation in world-leading research. It benefits from the platform the UK provides for our life sciences sector, with around 33,000 people employed in over 600 organisations across the country.
Speaking ahead of his visit Andrew Dunlop said:
The UK Government wants to take advantage of the demand for our countrys goods and services that exist overseas. With the Milan Expo bringing the world to our doorstep I want to ensure we seize all the opportunities that are out there for Scottish businesses.
UKTI have already helped create a platform for the Scottish Government to promote our world class food and drink sector to an international audience. I will use my time at the Expo this week to help open new doors for Scotlands outstanding life sciences industry.
The World Expos take place every five years and this years Milan Expo 2015 with the theme of Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life is hosting 145 nations including all of the UKs major political and trading partners. Expo 2015 offers a global platform to promote UK international agendas and showcase how British innovation, creativity and global leadership is helping to feed the planet. Since the Expo started in May over 466 million of new business has already been won for the UK with over two and a half million visitors visiting the UK Pavilion. The UK Government has set an overall target of winning business worth 1 billion over time resulting from the UKs participation at Expo 2015.
The stand-out UK Pavilion is inspired by the crucial role played by pollination in providing the food that we eat. It offers visitors a unique experiential journey taken from the perspective of the honey bee and forms the platform for a programme of UK business, science and cultural events, linked to the leading role the UK plays in overcoming global challenges.
The UK Governments theme for Milan Expo is Grown in Britain and Northern Ireland a reflection of our world class creativity, science, innovation, leadership in international development and our position as a major trading nation.
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed globally and assists overseas companies to bring investment to the UK. It leads the whole of government effort to help UK firms win business overseas and rebalance the economy towards export-led sustainable economic growth.