China (Visit)

Europe, External Affairs and Culture – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:15 pm on 25 November 2010.

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Photo of John Farquhar Munro John Farquhar Munro Liberal Democrat 2:15, 25 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment the Minister for Culture and External Affairs has made of the Scottish Government's recent visit to China. (S3O-12101)

Photo of Fiona Hyslop Fiona Hyslop Scottish National Party

The First Minister's visit to China in July and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning's visit to China in October ensured that the Scottish Government continued to make significant progress in deepening our bilateral relationship with China across a range of areas and in support of the objectives that are set out in the Government's China plan. The First Minister led a high-level trade mission to China from 4 to 11 July 2010 to pursue Sino-Scottish business opportunities in key sectors, including the renewable energy, tourism, education and textile sectors. Following the First Minister's meetings with the vice-minister of administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine during his 2009 and 2010 visits, the geographical indicator status of Scotch whisky has been agreed. The United Kingdom Government announced that on 8 November.

Photo of John Farquhar Munro John Farquhar Munro Liberal Democrat

I thank the minister for that comprehensive answer.

I am sure that the minister would join me in welcoming Vince Cable's success in reaching an important agreement with the Chinese Government to protect Scotch whisky. Has the Government made any assessment of the potential financial benefit that that will bring to our whisky industry? What help will it offer that vital Scottish industry as it continues to develop in the Chinese market?

Photo of Fiona Hyslop Fiona Hyslop Scottish National Party

I congratulate the Scotch Whisky Association, which has campaigned for three years for a GI of origin in China; indeed, it made its first application in 2007. There have been discussions between the SWA and the Chinese Government for three years, and I am pleased that the Scottish Government has played its part.

The important issue to consider for the industry is that there were £44 million of Scotch whisky exports to China in 2009. We should bear in mind the global scale of whisky exports, and that Scotch whisky contributes £3.9 billion in gross value added to the Scottish economy. We should also bear in mind that China is now the second biggest market. There is huge potential there, and the protection to prevent the production of counterfeits and stamp out claims of Scottish provenance where none exists will greatly enhance the opportunities in that market.