Commenting on the release of official data which showed that Scotland’s manufactured exports grew by 1.8% in the third quarter of 2014, Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
“These figures represent a strong performance by our manufacturing businesses even against a backdrop of significant economic issues facing a number of our key international markets. Our business members in the manufacturing sector have reported continued growth in exports onwards into the fourth quarter of 2014 but most of this growth is taking place in exports to counties outside of the European Union.
“Businesses are also telling us that they expect a further pick up in international trade in 2015. There is a good deal of optimism in the manufacturing sector and this has to be good news for the Scottish economy. Added to this is the fact that over a third of our exports are from our service sector, and with these businesses also expecting a pick up in 2015, the outlook is very promising indeed.
“Therefore the message to government is clear: as we face elections at a Scottish and UK level over the next two years and as measures to extend devolved decision making to Scotland proceed, business needs a stable framework to invest and develop our international connectivity, whatever the outcomes of the General and Scottish Elections.”
