UK 바카라 사이트 Minister for Scotland visits Iceland to build trade links and discuss climate change goals
Malcolm Offord addresses Arctic Circle Assembly and meets key figures in biotech and gaming sectors.
UK 바카라 사이트 Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord arrives in Iceland today [Wednesday 12 October] on a two-day visit to speak at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, discuss common climate change goals and build trade links.
Representing the UK as one of more than 60 countries participating in the largest annual Arctic gathering, Minister Offord will give the UK address at the Assembly.
He바카라 사이트檒l discuss the UK 바카라 사이트바카라 사이트檚 post-Brexit renewed Arctic Policy Framework, which is due to be published later this year, setting out the UK바카라 사이트檚 commitment to shared interests in science, environment, climate change and commerce.
Ahead of his visit, Minister Offord said:
The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet and聽this has profound implications for the UK, in terms of our weather, our environment and our security.聽 We must therefore聽take action domestically. By reducing our own emissions and showing global leadership, we can encourage others around the world to join the effort.
Scotland and Iceland have strong economic, academic and cultural links, and we greatly value these important ties. In particular, I바카라 사이트檓 keen to promote Scotland바카라 사이트檚 vital role聽within the聽United Kingdom and globally in terms of trade, energy and innovation.
Building our relationship with the Nordic countries 바카라 사이트� including Iceland 바카라 사이트� will bring direct benefit to Scottish business and to communities right across the UK.
Minister Offord will meet with other UK delegates from Orkney Islands Council as well as with counterparts from Iceland, Canada, the Faroe Islands, Norway and India, and hold discussions with Icelandic parliamentarians around Scotland바카라 사이트檚 offshore wind sector and the huge part it plays in the UK 바카라 사이트바카라 사이트檚 bold 2050 Net Zero targets
As well as having shared environmental goals, the UK and Iceland are significant commerce partners, with trade between the two countries worth around 拢1.1 billion in the year to March 2022. Scotland exported goods worth 拢31m to Iceland in 2021.
Icelandic companies have a number of high-tech and asset investments in the UK, and the University of Edinburgh offers a popular foundation course in Icelandic. In addition, both Scotland and Iceland have strong fishing and fish processing industries and tourism between the two countries is bolstered by direct Reykjavik-Glasgow flights.
As well as attending the Assembly, Minister Offord will visit a number of Icelandic businesses to strengthen links in sectors where the UK 바카라 사이트 is investing at home, with the focus on growth in Scotland.
He바카라 사이트檒l tour biotech company Orf Genetics and associated plant-based skincare firm BioEffect. There are parallels between Orf바카라 사이트檚 work in producing barley-based proteins and the research to be undertaken at the International Barley Hub at Dundee바카라 사이트檚 James Hutton Institute, funded by 拢20m in UK 바카라 사이트 investment and 拢15m from the Scottish 바카라 사이트 through the Tay Cities Deal.
The minister will also visit Iceland바카라 사이트檚 biggest gaming company, CCP Games in Reykjavik, who are keen to establish relationships with industry partners in the UK. He바카라 사이트檒l discuss potential links in Dundee, regarded as a centre of gaming excellence in Europe due to Abertay University바카라 사이트檚 renowned game design degree and the 4000-seater Esports arena due for completion in 2024/25. The UK 바카라 사이트 announced 拢8million of funding in February this year for the Dundee-based UK Games Fund that will encourage skills in the sector, nurture talent and give increased support to entrepreneurial young developers.