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.