Scottish business delegation to explore opportunities in AP

HYDERABAD: A high-level business delegation from Scotland is expected to visit Andhra Pradesh to explore bilateral investment opportunities, a senior official of Scottish Development International (SDI) said here today.

Anne MacColl, Chief Executive Officer of SDI said India is an important trade and investment partner for Scotland, with 15 Indian companies investing up to 700 million pounds in the past five years and adding around 5000 jobs to the Scottish economy.

"Scotland's Industries Minister and a team of businessmen are expected to visit Andhra Pradesh some time in December or November this year to explore business opportunities," MacColl told reporters.

SDI, the international economic development arm of the Scottish government, also announced the opening of its office in Hyderabad today.

Witnessing growth across knowledge-based sectors in South India, the launch of SDI's new office marks the organisation's entry into the region, she said.

SDI country manager Mark Dolan said Scotland has been attracting investment from leading global companies looking for a premium, yet cost-effective destination for investment.

Scotland is already home to some leading South Indian corporates spread across varied industry verticals such as life sciences and information technology, he said.

Companies such as Axsys Technologies Ltd, Wipro Technologies and Tata Consultancy Services have benefited from Scotland's receptive business environment and strong focus on innovation, he said.