Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, has revealed his organisation has completed a series of overseas trades missions aimed at boosting Glasgow’s economic growth. 

Mr Patrick explained to the Go Radio Business Show: “We took a delegation of Glasgow companies out for a week to Southeast Asia, focusing on Singapore and Indonesia.

“Southeast Asia is our newest target market and completes our choice of six overseas destinations we are prioritising to help our members build their export business.”

He noted the Chamber had been already active in Germany, Italy, the US and China, most recently adding the United Arab Emirates, following its support of the Glasgow team at COP28 in Dubai.

“Southeast Asia adds a market that is growing fast. The Asian Development Bank is estimating that growth was 5.6% in 2022 and 4.3% last year.

“Taking the 10 countries that make up the association of Southeast Asian nations together would make this the fifth largest economy in the world after the US, China, Japan and Germany. It’s a diverse group of countries, including Singapore and Indonesia, which are in the Scottish Government’s top 20 target markets – but also Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, all with different characteristics and opportunities.” 

The market is particularly important for Scotch, with figures released by the Scotch Whisky Association showing Singapore remains the third largest export market by value in 2023 after the US and France.

Mr Patrick continued: “Our delegation included businesses in the drinks industry, robotics, health and life sciences, education and creative branding, all of which could see clear opportunities, especially in Singapore. 

“Both the Scottish Government and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce gave direct support to the delegation visit. 

“Singapore offers a very striking example of the richness of support there is for a Scottish company looking to use that country as the platform for entering the rest of Southeast Asia.”

The Chamber was able to draw on networks and expertise from the British High Commission, the Department of Business and Trade and Scottish Development International.

“We also worked in very close collaboration with our own overseas partners, the British Chambers of Commerce in Singapore and the University of Strathclyde.”