据统计, 苏格兰制成品出口略有增长. 企业部长Jim Mather今天重申苏格兰政府的承诺:给苏格兰"竞争优势".

Jim Mather指出:2004年苏格兰制成品出口增长不能掩盖苏格兰经济业绩不佳的事实.但据最新数据报告, 苏格兰经济也有出现一些积极的迹象. 一些规模较小的出口行业如纺织在2007年第一季出现了较强的增长.因此政府必须做的更多,给予苏格兰一个竞争的优势.

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather today reiterated the Scottish government's commitment to give Scotland "a competitive edge" after statistics showed slight growth in the country's manufactured exports.

Commenting on the Scottish Manufactured Exports Estimates for the first quarter of 2007, published today, Mr Mather said:

"The modest growth in manufactured exports since 2004 should not hide the fact that the Scottish economy is underperforming.

"There are some positive signs in the latest figures. Some of the smaller exporting sectors such as textiles, have grown strongly over the first quarter of 2007 and other industries, in particular metal products, have also shown stronggrowth over the year. However, this government recognises that we must do more to give Scotland a competitive edge.

"While we have to accept that emerging markets in the Far East and Eastern Europe will provide ever tougher competition, there is far more we can and will do to improve Scottish economic performance.

"Our overaraching aim is increased and sustainable economic growth. We must aspire to the kind of performance we see in countries such as Ireland, Norway and Iceland - the arc of prosperity that surround us.

"Policies such as reducing and removing business rates, refocusing and reforming the Enterprise Networks and creating new, vocational opportunities for young people will help us achieve this goal.

"Statistics like these make me even more determined to push ahead with this agenda and end years of underperformance."

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