Business

Scotland’s modern economy is built on a long legacy of international commerce and innovation.

The pioneers who invented the television and discovered penicillin have their 21st equivalents striving to shape the world around new generations and create one of the world’s most dynamic locations to work, do business, or invest.

Scotland offers high quality research in thriving, cutting-edge sectors such as computer informatics, biotechnology and life sciences, coupled with prowess in sectors like financial services and renewable energy. Add to that a skilled and flexible workforce in a country with free healthcare and education systems and you have the perfect place in which to do business.

Chinese companies who have given a vote of confidence by choosing to invest in Scotland include Lenovo, the Bank of China and Ningxia Zhongyin Cashmere Company. 

Other leading international companies to expand their operations in Scotland include Amazon, Mitsubishi Power Systems, Barclays, BNP Parisbas, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Gamesa. 

Aberdeen, the offshore oil capital of Europe, has benefited from the news from BP that oil from under the Atlantic will ensure the industry can keep the oil flowing for the next 40 years at least.

And if you think there is more to life than work and business, you can enjoy Scotland’s non-stop cultural activities or find peace and quiet in an easily-accessible countryside that ranges from the benign hills of rural Galloway or Perthshire to the wild mountains of the north and north west mainland.

Scotland / China links:

Commercial and business links between Scotland and China are strong. These include:

  • Scottish fund manager Martin Currie has signed a partnership deal with the Singapore-based APS Asset Management to invest in China.
  • Scottish renewable energy company SeaEnergy plc and China's Nantong COSCO Ship Steel Structure company enter an agreement in 2010 to develop products for the offshore wind energy market.
  • A commercial and educational partnership between Chinese life science company Asiapharm, China's health ministry and Scottish health professionals will support training for China's next generation of pharmacists and hospital managers.

 

Did You Know? 
  • It can be 30 per cent more cost-effective to set up and run a business in Scotland than in other parts of the UK (Source: Financial Times FDI Benchmarking, 2011.
  • The Financial Times fDi magazine (Foreign Direct Investment) has voted Scotland ‘European Region of the Future’ in two out of the last four years.
  • Commuting times are low. More than two million people live within a 60-minute drive of the main cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

  • The Universities of Dundee and St Andrews are rated in the top 10 best scientific institutions in the world for scientists to work in. (Source: The Scientist, 2011) 

  • Scotland has a proud history in financial services which stretches back 300 years. Today Scotland is one of Europe’s leading financial centres.

  • Scotland is strong in many of China’s key strategic growth sectors including renewable energy, life sciences and financial services.
Find out more 

Scottish Development International (SDI) is a government organisation which helps overseas businesses tap into Scotland's key strengths in knowledge, high level skills, technology and innovation.  SDI also works to help Scottish companies do more business overseas and to promote Scotland as a good place to live and work.  SDI has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Scottish Development International

TalentScotland

Relocation Advisory Service