Two small nations, one big future

TODAY, Newhall in Aberdeenshire consists of several farm buildings, dry stone walls, and narrow tracks. The rolling grass fields of this remote part of north-east Scotland seem a world away from the skyscrapers and bright lights of the Lion City, but it was in Newhall that William Farquhar, appointed by Stamford Raffles as Singapore’s first Resident, was born in 1774.

Two hundred and fifty years later, Singapore and Scotland are bound by history, culture, and deep family ties. Streets and structures with names such as Crawford, Horsburgh, and Thomson remind Singaporeans of the role Scots played in building the city, while the Gordon Highlanders memorial in the Scots Church on Orchard Road (which Singaporeans know as the Orchard Road Presbyterian Church) pays tribute to the many Scots who gave their lives defending Singapore in WWII.

However, my journey from Scotland to Singapore this week is not simply to honour our shared past, but to help both our small nations benefit from the opportunities of a big future. We already enjoy a healthy trading relationship, from whisky to financial services, from salmon to our higher education sector. But there is much more to do and my Brand Scotland initiative will help unlock that potential.

Economic growth is the number one mission for the UK government. A big part of achieving that in Scotland will mean boosting our trade links across the world. Brand Scotland will fund trade missions, promote Scottish goods and services abroad, and help Scottish businesses export whether for the first time or to greater levels. I have set a target of five trade missions in the next two years and as Secretary of State for Scotland, I will be leading from the front.

Earlier this month I was in Norway, discussing Scottish and Norwegian collaboration on energy and defence. Before arriving in Singapore this week, I was in Kuala Lumpur, meeting officials from some of Scotland’s finest education institutions helping to educate students in Malaysia and in Scotland.

 Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Our visit to Singapore could not have come at a more exciting time for Singapore and Scotland’s trading relationship. In just two weeks’ time, the UK will formally accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This is a huge opportunity for both our nations not only to grow our bilateral trading relationship but also explore new mutual export markets.

A commitment to liberalise trade between countries with a combined population of half a billion people is a big statement about how Singapore and the UK value free trade and a rules-based global economic order, but the CPTPP has to mean something real for businesses, big and small, in both our countries. Trade missions such as this play an important role in strengthening those ties and I am confident people in Scotland and Singapore will feel the benefits of this agreement, through increased trade and closer business relationships.

Of course, those close relationships go way beyond British pounds and Singapore dollars. With thousands of Scots and Singaporeans living in each other’s country, the family and cultural ties are as strong as ever. This week, I will mark St Andrew’s Day (Nov 30) as the guest of honour at the Singapore St Andrew’s Society ball. Events such as this remind us of the global passion for Scottish culture and my Brand Scotland programme will help share it with even more people around the world, with a welcome economic boost back home.

The opportunities for Singapore and Scotland’s shared future could not be bigger. Whether it be our desire to tackle climate change and decarbonise our economies, or lead the way in ensuring AI can help citizens lead better lives, the challenges we face cannot be tackled in isolation. I am determined that Brand Scotland plays a part in bringing our two small nations closer together, benefiting Scots and Singaporeans alike. The welcome I have received and the attitudes of everyone I have met since arriving in this city give me confidence that can be achieved.

Two hundred and fifty years from now, Scotland and Singapore’s relationship will be as unrecognisable as the world of William Farquhar would be today. But it will be the work of 21st century business and political leaders which sets the conditions for future success. Brand Scotland will be one part of those efforts and I could not be prouder to have Singapore as a partner in this crucial project.

The writer is Secretary of State for Scotland