Our small country’s ability to take knowledge and expertise from a broad spectrum of sectors onto a global stage is not new and it was this rich history, coupled with an appetite for international networking, that led to the creation of our Aberdeen-Houston Gateway.
The event begins its sixth annual run this week and includes a lunchtime event at Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel, Aberdeen on Wednesday.
Since the Gateway was founded, we have proudly showcased some of the many industries in which Scotland excels.
There has always been demand for our technology, skills and knowledge from a global audience and, in my opinion, we continue to punch well above our weight in terms of what we achieve on the international business stage.
In this part of the world, it is natural to lean towards how expertise gathered in the oil and gas industry is now held in high regard in other parts of the world – but the truth is that it extends far beyond this to other areas such as food and drink, healthcare, bioscience, professional services and IT to name but a few.
One common factor behind any plan to “go global” is entrepreneurial spirit and there are many examples of people and businesses who have done this well, with technology companies currently leading the charge in many cases.
I believe that all businesses, technology focused or otherwise, seeking to establish or grow their international presence should embrace any opportunity to take part in an event which zooms in on the what, how, who, when and where of operating internationally. Creating the Aberdeen-Houston Gateway and tapping into the Scottish Development International delegation to OTC are just some of the things we have in our own business toolkit.
But it doesn’t matter what we export to where, more often than not it is a win-win for Scotland and its businesses who get out there and broaden their geographic horizons. Scottish companies doing well abroad not only create jobs in the overseas market but they also bring money home to positively impact on our economy – and there is no doubt that technology will lie at the heart of ongoing growth in years to come.
There is still time to book a place at the annual Aberdeen-Houston Gateway. To find out more, e-mail brettjackson@granitepr.co.uk or bernie@bpscotland.co.uk.
By Granite PR founder and managing director Brett Jackson.
