Why we have so much to gain from our Egyptian 'round table'

IN POPULATION terms, Scotland and Egypt are far apart, five million as opposed to 65 million. However, it is a startling illustration of the gap between developed and developing worlds that the two economies are of comparable size. That, as I learned in Cairo last week, is one reason why the Egyptian government sees our experiences as relevant to them and wants to pursue close commercial connections. In particular, they want to obtain more inward investment and increase their exports.

When I met the Prime Minister Dr Atef Abeid, we discussed how these connections could be taken forward. We agreed that a high- level "round table" should be held in Cairo later this year in order to consolidate trade and investment links. I believe that this will be a valuable tool in developing the specific Scottish-Egyptian connection.

There is a tremendous amount of goodwill towards Britain in general and Scotland in particular. Egypt is our 37th largest export market in the world with a total value of over #500m last year. But the identifiable Scottish share of that market, at around #20m, is lower than it should be.

I supported a delegation of 20 Scottish companies and organisations trying to improve on that figure. I have no doubt they will succeed. All of them were enthused by the reception they received, the top-level access a ministerial presence helped to facilitate and the enormous potential of the Egyptian market.

Educational connections play a huge part in forging the affinity which exists.There is at present a programme to train 2000 teachers in Edinburgh and Glasgow, while 100 Egyptian doctors were trained in Scotland last year and the Scottish Ambulance Service advises the Ministry of Health in Cairo. Links like these are good for business in the short term but also virtually guarantee future leaders of the country will include some who have an allegiance to Scotland and the UK.

I had an excellent discussion with Dr Youssef Boutros Ghali, Egypt's Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade. He knew about organisations like Locate in Scotland and Scottish Trade International and wanted to learn more.

Egypt is well-placed to become an inward investment hub of North Africa. We should help them deliver that role. The complexities of trade are illustrated by an Ayrshire firm in Cairo with me, Chilton from Girvan. It manufactures fabric which is exported to countries such as Egypt and Morocco for conversion into sportswear. There is no point bemoaning the fact the whole job isn't done in Britain. The positive story is there are jobs in Girvan dependent on manufacturing, exporting and joint ventures.

This was my second visit to Egypt in the past year. Everyone, from President Mubarak downwards, has assured me of the desire to increase the levels of trade. Egypt offers huge opportunities and the "round table" should help us pursue them.

Brian Wilson is a Scottish Office minister

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