Nicola Sturgeon will insist today that Scotland is “open for business” as she unveils a four-point plan, designed to tackle the economic fallout from Brexit.
The first minister will use her main conference address to outline her plans to boost Scottish trade and investment.
“Prominent” Scots could be dispatched abroad to promote Scottish products, while the SNP leader will also create a special trade board in a bid to boost exports.
She is also committed to creating a “Scottish Innovation and Investment Hub” in the German capital, Berlin, as well as doubling the number of international development staff.
The Scottish Conservatives dismissed the first minister’s plans, claiming she was creating “even more instability and uncertainty”.
The announcement came, amid growing concern about the potential economic impact of the UK-wide decision to leave the EU.
Theresa May’s government has so far indicated it would be willing to sacrifice membership of the single market – which accounts for around a quarter of Scottish exports – in a bid to gain greater control over immigration.
Addressing her party conference in Glasgow today, Ms Sturgeon is expected to say: “Creating jobs, expanding the economy and growing tax revenues – these priorities must be at the centre of everything we do.
“We will also redouble our efforts to make sure our economy is internationally competitive.
“That’s even more important now in the wake of the Brexit vote.
“Make no mistake, the growth of our economy right now is threatened not just by the prospect of losing our place in the single market – disastrous though that would be.
“It is also the deeply damaging – and utterly shameful – message the Tories’ rhetoric about foreign workers is sending. And the uncertainty that message brings to our public services and Scottish employers .
“More than ever, we need to tell our European friends that Scotland is open for business.”
Launching the conference on Thursday, the first minister indicated she could be willing to call a second referendum on independence before 2019, with the necessary Bill published next week.
The Scottish Conservatives’ Chief Whip, John Lamont, rounded on Ms Sturgeon’s plans, claiming it was the continuing threat of a second plebiscite that was damaging the economy.
He added: “You don’t show Scotland is open for business by threatening to pull us out of our own Union, and creating even more instability and uncertainty.”
