Scottish Development International

If your business is looking for opportunitiesand collaboration in a growing economy, with a strong focus on researchand development, then invest in Scotland with the help of SDI.

To date: around 1,500 leading global companies, including Amazon, 02, Dell, and Wyeth, have invested in Scotland.

Inward Investment Support

SDI offers a full aftercare programme to maximise your investment opportunities in Scotland.

• Overview of aftercare services
• Information and support on financial assistance schemes
• Business opportunities in Scotland

Our aim is to broaden Scotland’s international appeal as a firstchoice source of knowledge and to assist the growth of the Scottisheconomy, by encouraging inward investment and helping Scottish-basedcompanies develop international trade.

To do this, we provide a full range of services for companiesseeking to exploit Scotland’s key strengths in knowledge, high levelskills, technology and innovation.We give advice on the best locations, assist with recruitment andtraining, and offer a business mentoring service. And we supply marketinformation to help you make the right connections.

By encouraging international companies to share expertise andpromoting the expansion of Scotland’s portfolio of first-class exports,we strive to create partnerships with overseas investors, opening upnew channels to markets, technologies and products. We even help strikelicensing deals with some of the UK’s top universities.

To succeed globally, businesses need expertise; the best people,the best technologies. SDI is here to show you that Scotland candeliver exactly what you’re looking for. But we offer much more thanjust advice. Creative thinking is just one of the reasons why SDI wasrecently declared "...the world’s most consistently high performing agency..." (out of 178 investment agencies) by GDP Global Development Consultancy.

Different businesses require different thinking, so we createtailored solutions to deliver exactly what your business needs. Bypromoting Scotland as a dynamic economy on the international stage, wecan help you succeed in the global marketplace. So contact us for a tailored response to your own business needs.

SDI Partners

Scottish Development International is a joint venturebetween the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise that seeks toattract foreign inward investment to Scotland and build a strong,diverse and healthy economy.

SDI’s partners include:

• The Scottish Government
• Scottish Enterprise
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise

The Scottish Government

Established in 1999, the Scottish Government is Scotland’s very ownparliament and governing body, with powers devolved from Westminster.

With an annual budget of around £27 billion, the Scottish Governmentmakes all the decisions that are most relevant to the people ofScotland, forming legislation on:

• Health;
• Justice;
• Education;
• Transport and more.

The leader of the Scottish Government is the First Minister, who ischosen by the party in power. The First Minister is responsible forappointing Scottish Ministers. Scottish Government civil servants areaccountable to Scottish Ministers, who are themselves accountable tothe Scottish Parliament.

Find out more about the Scottish Government

Scottish Enterprise

Fundedby the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's maineconomic development agency and seeks to boost Scotland’s businesspotential and create a booming and competitive set of industries withinthe country.

Scottish Enterprise aims to provide a range of high-quality services in order to:

• Help new businesses get underway;
• Support and develop existing businesses;
• Help people gain the knowledge and skills they need for jobs; and
• Help Scottish businesses develop a strong presence in the global economy.

Scottish Enterprise also works with universities, colleges, localauthorities and other public sector bodies. Find out more about Scottish Enterprise.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Highlandsand Islands Enterprise (HIE) is the "sister" organisation of ScottishEnterprise and is responsible for the economic and communitydevelopment of the Highlands and Islands regions.

Scotland’s rural communities are unique and have particular needs.HIE has helped to shape the region as a place of skilled workers,strong communities and competitive business.

HIE's activities include:

• Delivery of business support services;
• Provision of training and learning programmes;
• Assistance for community and cultural projects; and
• Creating measures for environmental renewal.