Alex Salmond to make Norway trade visit

• Visit will be in aid of job creation in oil, gas and fishing industries

• Alex Salmond to tell of Scotland’s ‘renewables revolution’ at conference

• Norway has become increasingly important to Scottish economy

Alex Salmond said his visit will also focus on creating new jobs in the oil, gas and fish industries.

Norway has become increasingly important to Scotland’s economy and has moved from being its tenth largest export market in 2007 to sixth in 2010.

Scotland’s sales to the country has reached £815 million.

Mr Salmond will be a keynote speaker at a renewable energy conference in Bergen hosted by Norwegian employers federation Norsk Industri.

He is expected to tell delegates about Scotland’s “renewables revolution”, as the country aims to reach a target of generating the equivalent of 100% of domestic electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020, while continuing as a net exporter of power.

The First Minister said: “Scotland has strong historical, cultural and economic ties to Norway and it has become an increasingly important trading partner over the last four years, rising from our 10th largest export market in 2007 to sixth in 2010 with sales to the country reaching £815 million.

“At the same time, more than 130 Norwegian companies are operating around 280 subsidiaries in Scotland, with Aker Solutions and Marine Harvest among the major inward investors I will be meeting, to discuss their plans, this week.

“Clearly our two nations have a shared interest in the energy industry - both in the oil and gas and renewables sectors - as well as in the aquaculture industry, and these are the focus of my engagements in Bergen and Oslo. I look forward to building on our existing relationships and exploring new opportunities for collaboration and investment between our governments, agencies and businesses.”

Anne MacColl, chief executive of Scottish Development International, added: “Scotland and Norway have strong historical links, which have been cemented by shared expertise and success in areas such as oil and gas and renewables, as well as the seafood industry. We recognise and value Norway as a very important export market for our companies, and this visit will play a critical role in ensuring we fully exploit this potential, and position Scotland firmly as an ideal place with which to do business.

“We’re seeing significant changes in patterns of world trade, and Scottish Development International is working closely with the Scottish Government to build strong links with key markets such as Norway, so that our companies can take full advantage of new and existing opportunities to grow their business.”