SCOTTISH exports to the Netherlands worth more than £2 billion a year are at risk because of Brexit, Fiona Hyslop has warned.
The external affairs secretary highlighted the trading relationship between the two countries ahead of a series of engagements in The Hague today.
She is due to hold meetings with the Dutch Vice-Minister for European Affairs, Thijs van der Plas, and Marjan Hammersma, Secretary General of the Ministry for Education, Culture and Science.
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The Scottish Government said the latest data shows that in 2015 the Netherlands was Scotland’s second main export destination, worth £2.3bn and representing eight per cent of the export total.
Ministers argue the UK Government’s plan to leave the European single market and customs union threatens such trade.
Hyslop said: “Scotland has close cultural links with the people of the Netherlands – and with annual Scottish exports worth in excess of £2bn passing through Dutch ports, our mutually beneficial economic ties are also very apparent.
“As I meet with representatives of the Dutch government I will be emphasising our position that, despite the threat of Brexit, Scotland is open for business and we want to continue to have a strong and positive relationship going forward.
“As set out in our analysis paper, we do not believe Scotland is required to choose between the EU single market and continued trading relations with the UK.
“A solution can – and must – be reached that ensures Scotland can continue to benefit from both markets.”
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Last month, the Scotland in Europe analysis by the Scottish Government forecast the economy north of the Border would be hit by a £12.7 billion a year blow by 2030 in the event of a hard Brexit. The figure represents the loss of around £2300 per person per annum and is the equivalent of a 8.5 per cent drop in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The study also warned of a slowdown even in the “least worst scenario” of a soft Brexit, forecasting a £4bn growth reduction to Scotland’s e economy. Both forecasts were broadly confirmed by a secret UK Government study, which predicted a nine per cent blow to Scotland’s economy under a hard “no deal” Brexit.
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