Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael has urged Highland Council to come forward with proposals to strengthen the region’s powers.
The Liberal Democrat said he believed there “must be an appetite” in the area for the same kind of special status that was recently granted to the islands.
Local authorities on Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles used the debate over Scotland’s future to launch the Our Islands Our Future campaign to try to boost local decision-making.
A framework was published by the Scotland Office in August to help tackle a range of key issues on the islands, and ensure their interests were always at the forefront of government thinking in the future.
Mr Carmichael, the northern isles MP, told the Press and Journal yesterday that he could envisage a similar agreement for Highland region.
He said: “I’m off to Dunoon to talk to Argyll and Bute Council, I’ve been talking to the islands councils already – Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles – and we’ve got a framework for them to engage with government in London and also in Brussels.
“If there is an appetite for that in the islands, I would have thought there must be an appetite for it in the Highlands, and if Highland Council want to come and talk about that, I’ll be more than happy to see them, and would encourage them to do so.”
Drew Hendry, Highland Council leader and SNP member, said: “We’ve always been engaged in the Our Islands Our Future campaign and we’re due to meet at the Highlands and Islands Convention to discuss how to take it forward.
“We will talk to anyone to get the best deal for the Highlands and islands.”
Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander, the Inverness MP, has previously suggested the establishment of a “a forum with more clout” to represent the region.
Aberdeen Council has been lobbying the UK Government for one of its flagship City Deals, to help boost local investment.
Asked if the north-east and other regions could bid for an islands-style agreement, Mr Carmichael said: “These developments are always best if they come from the communities affected, rather than being imposed by governments from above.
“Any communities in Scotland that wants to have a meaningful discussion about how they might see their part of the country governed better will always get a positive response from me.”