ANGUS Robertson is headed to New York this week to promote Scotland as annual Tartan Week celebrations get underway.
While in the US, the External Affairs Secretary will meet for discussions with tech companies who currently invest or plan to invest in Scotland to “encourage greater connections, greater trade and investment between our countries,” he said.
He will also attend a meeting with the World Bank regarding Scotland’s funding for education projects in African countries.
Robertson plans to participate in New York City's Tartan Day parade on April 6.
Before the celebration on April 5, To See Ourselves, the Scottish independence referendum documentary will have an exclusive showing.
READ MORE: Tartan Week: Scottish independence film To See Ourselves in New York
Other cultural events take place during the week, like Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan at the Brick Church and Tartan Day Observance in Bryant Park, both in New York City, and the Tartan Day Tattoo in Washington, DC.
“As a showcase of Scottish culture and heritage in the US, Tartan Week is also a major opportunity for our culture and creative sectors to reach new audiences and markets, in line with our recently published international culture strategy, and our Scottish Connections Framework, which aims to strengthen Scotland’s links with our diaspora throughout the world,” Robertson said.
He will attend a discussion by the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society to hear research about Scottish links to enslaved Americans and descendants, a project supported by Scottish Connections Framework.
Tartan Week celebrates ways in which the countries are linked, in addition to Scottish arts and culture, food, drink and music.
Direct exports from Scotland to the US were worth £5.14 billion in 2021. The US is Scotland’s highest international export destination, and the top export market for Scotch whisky.
Additionally, more than 6300 US students choose to study in Scotland during the 2021/22 year, making it the country's third biggest market for non-EU international students.
“Tartan Week is an opportunity to celebrate Scotland's historic ties with North America, which flourish to this day through cultural exchange, trade, investment and tourism,” Robertson said.
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