Nation's salvation will be in foreign trade

It is disappointing that The Scotsman takes such a narrow view of the Scottish Government's international engagement in its front page article of 12 June, wholly ignoring the positive economic impact of the its ministerial overseas engagement and the tangible benefits international aid provides for communities.

Your article gives prominence to Scottish Development International (SDI) being the largest investor in international activity. It is a pity you pay no such attention to the rewards brought about by that investment.

For every 1 SDI invests in internationalisation, there is an estimated return of 7 and for every 1 invested in inward investment, an estimated return of 11 is generated, which is a wonderful deal for Scotland. The publication of UK export figures last week demonstrates our success, where Scotland's exports have risen 3.5 per cent against a fall across the other UK nations.

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This government considers that countries in the developed world have a global responsibility to help the poorest countries in the world to fight extreme poverty. This moral imperative is enshrined by world leaders in the universal adoption of the Millennium Development Goals.

The world economic downturn will have most impact on those living in extreme poverty in the developing world – this is not the time to turn our backs on hugely significant global issues such as child malnutrition, food security, problems of access to education and maternal deaths in childbirth.

Would our critics prefer that we ignore India and China, with their fast-growing economies and massive potential for trade and investment? Only this week, I am visiting AxSys Technology, a Glasgow-based company from India which is contributing to the Scottish economy through recent expansion and job increases. Do they regard representing Scotland in formal European meetings as a waste of time – even though it results in 850m of European Structural Funds, 115m support for energy projects in Shetland and Aberdeen, or 50m in European Investment Bank funding for housing regeneration among many other benefits?

Finally, you may also be interested to know that the previous administration, in its final year (2006/07), undertook 51 overseas visits costing a total of 104,236 in real terms while in 2008/09, this administration undertook 59 visits costing 92,139. Our average cost per visit was 1,562 in 2008/09 compared with 2,044 in 2006/07

FIONA HYSLOP MSP

Minister for External Affairs

The Scottish Government figures showing a 3.5 percentage rise in exports (your report, 11 June) is a heartening sign that Scottish companies are recognising the opportunities that exist overseas. Exports are a clear route to recovery and growth.

Companies need more encouragement to make international trade a part of their thinking. They need greater access to information about how to approach foreign markets, to know where there is demand and who to target. For firms that haven't sold abroad, it can be a daunting prospect, which is why international networks and trade missions play a critical role.

These figures should be a springboard for a new, more focussed strategy that capitalises on the experience we already have in Scotland.

ROBERT HANNAH

Atholl Crescent

Edinburgh