Global Insights 2018

I have been with Scottish Development International (SDI) for 7 months now. SDI is a government agency supporting trade & investment in Scotland. Every year there is a Global Insights event for SDI's In-Market Food & Drink Specialists where they meet with companies to provide advice & guidance on international markets and discuss food & drink related opportunities and trends in those markets.

SDI In-Market Food & Drink Specialists from 12 countries/regions (UAE/Middle East, Germany, China, Singapore, France, Benelux, Nordics, Japan, Hong Kong, North America, Spain & Italy) were in Scotland from 4 - 15 June for Global Insights this year.

Apart from meeting with companies, which was the main part of the programme, we Specialists got the opportunity to spend time with each other, share best practices and understand opportunities and trends in all our markets. For a SDI newbie like me and for several of my other colleagues, this was probably one of the most beneficial elements of the programme.

It was interesting to go up to Inverness and meet with companies in that region to understand their ambitions for the UAE and wider Middle East and also for other international markets. I got to spend a weekend at Inverness - such a beautiful and scenic place and it helps when the weather is on your side. Yes, no rain and the sun was out!

We also got to meet with and listen to SDI partners such as Scotland Food & Drink, Scottish Whisky Association, Scottish Bakers Association, Seafood Scotland, Quality Meat Scotland and the Craft Brewery Association Scotland. They provided us with some interesting insights on their respective sub-sectors and Scotland's offering and capabilities in those categories.

We Specialists also had the opportunity to meet with the Cabinet Secretary Mr Fergus Ewing and discuss the various opportunities and successes in our international markets.

It wasn't just work all the time though. As they say, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! SDI's food & drink team definitely knows how to party hard. This was us, singing and dancing, on the last night, before we all left for our respective markets.

All in all, a great couple of weeks in Scotland, resulting in a better understanding of what Scotland has to offer and a good pool of innovative and quality companies to take back to our international markets and provide support over the next few years.