UK Government Minister Kirsty McNeill embarks on a three-day visit to Osaka and Tokyo, aiming to enhance trade and investment between Scotland and Japan.
This initiative focuses on promoting Scottish seafood and renewable energy projects, potentially creating jobs and strengthening economic ties under the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
Strengthening Economic Ties
The UK Government is actively working to deepen its economic relationship with Japan, focusing on sectors like seafood, whisky, life sciences, and renewable energy.
Minister Kirsty McNeill’s visit underscores this commitment by promoting Scottish exports at major expos in Osaka and Tokyo. The initiative aims to boost job creation in Scotland while enhancing the availability of Scottish products in international markets.
Scottish exports to Japan have shown significant growth potential, with goods valued at £484 million and services at £475 million annually.
Notably, Scottish mackerel now constitutes 20% of Japan’s imported mackerel—a tenfold increase since 2019—highlighting the success of targeted export strategies.
Opportunities for Growth
- The subsea cable factory in the Scottish Highlands will create approximately 150 jobs.
- The Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Farm will power up to 70,000 homes.
- Venture Café’s launch in Edinburgh will connect UK innovators with Japanese tech ecosystems.
Innovation Hubs: Bridging Cultures
The launch of Venture Café in Edinburgh represents a significant step towards fostering innovation and entrepreneurship between the UK and Japan.
This initiative aims to link tech ecosystems from both countries, providing a platform for collaboration among entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors. The café will serve as a hub for innovation in areas such as AI and supercomputing.
Quotes from Ministers
Minister Kirsty McNeill said:
“Brand Scotland is about selling the best of Scotland to the world and encouraging inward investment to create jobs and opportunities for Scots. Scottish companies already export £484 million of goods and £475 million of services annually to Japan and there is scope for so much more.
The UK-Japan partnership is closer than it has been for decades, with intensified cooperation across the entire breadth of UK economic growth and security interests, including defence, digital, cyber, science and innovation and trade and investment.
Trade missions such as this help foster even greater collaboration and I look forward to promoting the very best of Scotland in Japan and embedding Scottish produce, such as seafood, in Japanese gastronomy.
The UK Government is doing everything it can to help Scottish businesses make the most of opportunities overseas as part of our Plan for Change to grow our economy and put more money in people’s pockets.”
Minister Catherine West said:
“The UK-Japan relationship is the closest it has been in decades, from trade to security and defence. As the Emperor said, we are friends like no other.
And there is no better advert for the UK than taking part in Expo 2025. It’s a chance to show our strengths in areas like science and tech and invite Japan and the world to ‘Come Build the Future’.”
Additional Reading
Food for Thought
This strategic visit by Minister McNeill highlights how international partnerships can drive local economic growth.
By focusing on important sectors like seafood exports and renewable energy projects, this initiative not only strengthens trade relations but also supports job creation within Scotland—demonstrating how global cooperation can yield tangible benefits at home.
Sources: UK Government, Seafood Scotland, CPTPP, Scotland Office, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Advanced Research and Invention Agency, Catherine West MP and Kirsty McNeill MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News™, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analyzed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
