Published: Thursday, 14th September 2017
The South of Scotland Alliance has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government that an interim partnership will be established prior to the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency being formed.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown confirmed at a meeting with the Alliance – made up of ourselves, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Enterprise and the private sector - that a South of Scotland Economic Partnership will be in place by the end of 2017.
SOSEA
- This will involve private and public sector partners and will prepare the ground for the establishment of South of Scotland Enterprise Agency (SOSEA).
- The new agency, due to be established in April 2020, will focus on strategic economic development, providing a voice for the South of Scotland and addressing challenges facing the area’s economy.
Councillor Mark Rowley, our Executive Member for Business and Economic Development, and Chair of the South of Scotland Alliance
“The opportunity to establish a new South of Scotland Enterprise Agency is a once in a generation opportunity that has the potential to improve the level of investment in economic growth, enterprise, skills and innovation across the South of Scotland.
“While this will not be fully operational until April 2020 as new legislation is required, the establishment of the partnership in the interim will ensure that the south of Scotland benefits from a new approach to economic development as soon as possible and also enables us to carry out some early projects and develop a clear economic plan for the south of Scotland.
Councillor Elaine Murray, Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council and member of the South of Scotland Alliance
“Having the arrangements in place by the end of this year is important. The subsequent two years of interim arrangements will then provide the opportunity to put crucial building blocks into place which will help to ensure that the new agency operates effectively from day one.
“The private sector’s involvement and active engagement in both the partnership and the future agency is critical to ensuring that this delivers on the vision of transforming the south of Scotland and delivering the growth and economic prosperity that we all wish to see.”
Further information
The Scottish Government issued a statement from Keith Brown on 13 September.