JACK'S OFF TO THE U.S. TO SEE DONALD

JACK McConnell plans to meet billionaire Donald Trump this week in a bid to boost Scotland's business links with the US.

The First Minister will sit down with the property tycoon during a tour of the US and Canada.

Mr Trump, whose mother was born on Lewis, is scheduled to have an hour-long meeting with Mr McConnell on Tuesday at Trump Tower on New York's Fifth Avenue.

The tycoon built his pounds 1.5bn empire on real estate, casinos and hotels.

The First Minister hopes to tap into Trump's genius to find ways of bringing greater investment to Scotland.

A Scottish Executive spokesman said: "It's going to be a general conversation about Scotland - as a place to do business.

"The First Minister will update Mr Trump on the political and business environment in Scotland in recent years. Mr Trump will also talk about his Scottish roots."

The meeting has been arranged by the Scottish Executive- funded inward investment agency, Scottish Development International, set to open its first office in New York.

Mr McConnell, who was ridiculed for wearing a pinstriped kilt in the US last year, flies out this morning for a week-long visit aimed at forging stronger, transatlantic ties. It's hoped that expatriate Scots can help trigger business investment in Scotland.

Before his Trump meeting, the First Minister will address a business breakfast at Harvard Business Club on the importance of links between New York's financial service industry and Scotland. After beginning his tour in the US, he will travel to the Canadian capital, Ottawa, for several engagements, including a meeting with Hugh Boyle, Scots-born founder and chief executive of Zoom Airlines.

The First Minister will also spend several hours at the Canadian Parliament, where he will be a VIP for a Question Time session, before meeting Prime Minister Paul Martin.

On Thursday evening Mr McConnell is due to address a Scottish reception attended by over 400 guests. It will feature performances by students from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and Scottish Ballet.

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