Motions, questions and answers

I travelled to Canada and the USA from 8 to 14 November 2015, where I undertook a series of meetings with key retailers, importers and government ministers primarily focussed on the promotion of Scotland’s food and drink.
The visit was designed to support the Scottish Government’s commitment to internationalise its activities (in line with the strategic objectives set out in Scotland’s International Framework) and raise Scotland’s profile in key countries overseas. It also followed on the First Minister’s visit to the USA in June 2015, and the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs’ visit to the USA during Scotland Week in April 2015 by helping to build on the relationships that were generated as part of those trips.
I spent time in Montreal and Quebec City in Canada, and New York, Washington DC and Baltimore in the USA.
I was accompanied by Jim McLaren, Chair of Quality Meat Scotland, James Macsween of Macsweens of Edinburgh, Rob Livesey, Vice-President of National Farmers’ Union Scotland and George Milne from the National Sheep Association at different engagements relevant to their respective interests.
Whilst in Montreal I met with the CEO of Tree of Life Canada, a speciality food provider, and Metro, a key Canadian retailer, to explore ways of expanding the portfolio of Scottish products into Canada and encourage the sale of more Scottish products across stores. Both meetings were encouraging in terms of new opportunities for Scottish products. I also had a meeting with representatives of Quebec’s liquor control board to discuss enhancing Scotland’s offering in Canada with particular opportunities identified in craft beer and craft distilling.
To help foster stronger governmental links between Scotland and Canada, I met with Mr David Heurtel, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change. We had particularly productive discussions on the lessons to be learnt from each country’s efforts to combat climate change and on Quebec’s deposit return scheme, which I was able to see operating in practice.
My final engagement in Montreal was to speak at a Scottish showcase dinner with key influencers and decision makers from Quebec’s food and drink industry. The dinner had Scotch lamb served as the main course – to great acclaim – and included a themed discussion on how to increase the Scottish offering in Montreal, with a particular focus on Scotch lamb and beef.
A day in Quebec City allowed time for further high level government to government meetings. I met with Mr Jean D’Amour, Quebec’s Minister of Transport and the Implementation of the Maritime Strategy Engage to promote and share expertise around Scotland’s National Marine Plan and the Quebec Maritime Strategy. I also met with Mr Germain Chevarie, Member of the National Assembly for the Magdalen Islands and Delegate of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to promote and share expertise around aquaculture, and food policies. My final meeting in Quebec City was with Mr Jacques Chagnon, President of Quebec’s National Assembly. I was able to visit the National Assembly to engage with the Quebecois Parliamentarians, and foster stronger governmental and parliamentary links between Scotland and Canada. I was particularly struck by the standing ovation afforded the Scottish delegation and the number of parliamentarians anxious to express warm support for Scotland.
In New York City I met with the CEO of the Brooklyn Brewery, one of America’s largest craft breweries with a significant global foot print, to discuss possible collaboration opportunities with Scottish breweries and explore potential areas for Scotland’s craft brewers looking to enter the US market. I noted not only the fact that the brewery sourced raw materials from Alloa but also the role played in the firm by graduates of the Heriot Watt brewing school.
I met with Paul Ross, CEO and President, The Edrington Group, USA, to discuss how the Scott