Die Bedeutung der schottischen Whisky Industrie für die Wirtschaft des Landes zeigte sich in den kürzlich veröffentlichten Exportzahlen. Nahrungsmittel bilden weiterhin den erfolgreichsten Export Sektor mit 3,6 Milliarden von insgesamt 18,6 Milliarden Pfund Exporteinnahmen in 2005, ausgenommen Öl und Gas. Spirituosen machten allein 3 Milliarden Pfund aus.
Whisky is the toast of Scottish exports
The importance of Scotland’s whisky industry to the nation’s economy was writ large in export figures released yesterday.
Food and drink remains Scotland’s most successful export sector, accounting for £3.6bn of the £18.6bn of total exports during 2005, excluding oil and gas. Spirits alone accounted for £3bn.
Total exports rose by £900m on the previous year, driven by increases in both manufacturing and service sectors. The US remains the most lucrative single country destination for Scottish products, accounting for £2.1bn of the market.
This compares with £9.1bn for European Union countries.
The figures emerged in the Global Connections Survey 2006, conducted for the Scottish Executive. Manufacturing remains dominant, accounting for £13bn of exports last year.
Scottish Enterprise Minister Nicol Stephen described the figures as encouraging, adding: „In a fast-changing world nothing can be taken for granted – and the strong showing by, for example, our food and drink industries proves that quality should always find an international market.“
China makes the top 20 destinations for the first time, at number 13. Other major export sectors were chemicals (£1.8bn), office machinery (£1.7bn), business services (£1.6bn), and radio, television and communication equipment (£1.3bn).
A separate study, Measuring Progress Towards a Smart, Successful Scotland, published by the executive, reported that Scotland is making progress in raising economic output per head and the proportion of working-age people in employment. It finds that Scotland performs well against international and UK benchmarks across most of 40 economic criteria.
However, Stephen highlighted the need for an improved business start-up rate.