Businesses urged to increase exports

Finance Secretary John Swinney has urged businesses to increase their exports to help in any economic recovery.

Mr Swinney said stronger export performance is “essential” to help growth.

He outlined the programme of support available to Scottish businesses yesterday in Glasgow at the National Challenge conference, which promotes a more holistic approach to helping companies sell their products abroad.

Mr Swinney told delegates: “The globalised economy means that a stronger export performance is essential if Scotland is to move on to a more sustainable, balanced path of growth and strengthen our economic success. This Government’s ambitious target to increase the value of our international exports by 50 per cent by 2017 is central to this.”