PRESS RELEASE : Alister Jack St Andrew’s Day Paris trade trip [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Scottish Office on 2 December 2022.

The Secretary of State met UK and French businesses, as well as France’s trade minister, diplomatic staff and parliamentarians. He visited Chanel to see how they have used tweed and other Scottish materials throughout their history, including in their latest range. And he jointly hosted a St Andrew’s night dinner with the British Ambassador to France, Dame Menna Rawlings.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said:

“Scotland and France have historic and enduring links, and St Andrew’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate and strengthen those ties.

A fantastic example of that relationship is the 100-year-old creative partnership between Paris’ Chanel fashion house and Scotland’s beautiful tweed, and it was fascinating to hear more about that.

The UK and France are important trade partners, and we must build on that. The French market is worth billions to Scottish businesses, with huge potential to grow. While in Paris I was hard at work promoting Scottish businesses, as the UK Government does every day, right around the world.”

Total trade in goods and services [exports plus imports] between the UK and France is worth £78.3 billion a year. Scotland’s exports to France are worth nearly £3 billion a year, ranging from whisky to renewable energy expertise. The Secretary of State hosted a lunch for French businesses representing these sectors, as well as meeting the French Government’s International Trade Minister, Olivier Becht.

The UK Government has one of the world’s largest diplomatic networks in the world. It is committed to promoting Scottish interests across foreign policy, security, defence, international trade, investment, culture, education and the arts – as well as providing vital consular assistance.