LIZ CAMERON

Markets such as China can be intimidating for businesses to break into but with the right support on the ground and in-market, there are major commercial rewards to be had. It is becoming ever more important for Scottish businesses to look outward at international markets for future growth, and that's why the Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network has been leading the charge on expanding global trade opportunities for Scottish businesses.

From the opening of our dedicated Scottish Trade Office in Yantai last year to the announcement last month of direct air links between between China and Scotland, the momentum is strong as we build on our business alliance between China and Scotland, which is ripe with private sector opportunities.

As this piece is published, I am out in China as part of the Chamber Network's B2B mission, which builds on the foundations of a succession of SCC-led initiatives in Beijing and Shandong, and which is expected to deliver substantial trade agreements for participating Scottish businesses. For the next week, we're here to learn, create, facilitate and add value through our valuable B2B connections in China for our business participants.

We have successfully secured an historic agreement with the China Chamber of International Commerce which will enable Scottish businesses to access opportunities as part of China's multi-trillion Belt and Road initiative. The signing took place at the high-profile Belt and Road Trade & Investment Forum in Beijing, attended by 500 Chinese officials, national leaders and business representatives from over 70 countries and Scotland was firmly on the world stage, ably represented by SCC Network's International Ambassador, David Valentine MBE. This collaboration will give Scottish businesses enhanced access to arguably one of the most visionary infrastructure projects of the modern era, demonstrating Scotland's global ambitions and our commitment to trading internationally.

As well as securing business opportunities, Scottish Chambers of Commerce was invited to address the Conference on the International Exchange of Professionals, under the aegis of China's key internationalisation body, the State Administration for Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA). Delivering a keynote speech on behalf of Scotland's world-class further and higher education sector, my message was clear; Scotland has a globally recognised pool of academic talent which represents a vast repository of research and teaching excellence in a myriad of areas of interest to China. Just some of the key sectors highlighted included robotics, AI, energy, engineering, medicine and aerospace. With the University of West of Scotland announcing a breakthrough accreditation via SAFEA to provide expertise and training in areas from midwifery to computing, the opportunity for our colleges and universities to widen our cooperation with China is ours for the taking.

The breadth of opportunity in China for Scottish businesses is vast and the strength of inter-personal relationships and business-to-business organisations is key to unlocking the commercial rewards in China. Scotland has a distinct and alluring commercial proposition, a message echoed too during the First Minister's successful recent trip, and it's clear that the patient groundwork that SCC has been laying, in partnership with the Scottish Government, is paying off. Yes, markets such as China can be intimidating, but they also inspire us to compete globally, and remind us that Scotland too is a global giant of entrepreneurialism and commerce.

Liz Cameron is chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce.