Showcasing Scotland's net zero capabilities at COP28

With the dust having settled on an action-packed few days of activity for Scotland at COP28, we take a look back at what was a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate not only Scotland's commitment to leading the global transition to a net zero future, but how Scottish businesses are well-positioned to play a pivotal role in this transition.

A VIP business reception to celebrate St Andrew’s Day kickstarted our presence at COP28, bringing together key business leaders and organisations in the food and drink sector. Showcasing over 20 Scottish food and drink brands, the event celebrated the rich heritage of Scotland, highlighting how Scottish companies contribute to sustainable and ethical practices in the industry. It also saw the introduction of Scotch lamb to the UAE market for the first time.

Our 19-company business delegation, encompassing energy, climate-tech, agri-tech and space, took part in a four-day programme, aimed at increasing business-to-business engagement to drive trade and investment opportunities, by showcasing Scotland’s innovation strengths in key net zero sectors.

?Various events allowed for a vast amount of knowledge sharing, particularly our ‘Route to Market’ event, panel discussion on the energy transition in the UAE and a session from the the Ministry of Economy on the UAE Investment Ecosystem. These saw industry experts sharing their insights on the future of energy in the region, the current opportunities for Scottish businesses looking to expand into the UAE market and the steps required to set up and operate a business there.

Many meetings were also held over the course of the four days, including key capital investment meetings with investors that our colleagues both in Scotland and in the UAE had been working with since Expo 2020 in Dubai. This included the UAE Ministry of Economy, whom we have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with under the UAE Joint Taskforce, as well as meetings with Scottish stakeholders and interested UAE investors.

Another key aspect of the COP28 experience was displaying Scottish innovation.

Our ‘Energy Meet the Buyer’ session brought together Scottish businesses with key buyers from ADNOC, TAQA, and EWEC. The companies had the opportunity to pitch their products and services directly to these potential customers.

Our Investor Showcase also offered an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Scotland’s role in tackling climate change, highlighting the expertise, innovation and ambition of Scotland's climate-tech companies and how their technology will play a crucial role in the race to net zero.???With 11 companies pitching for investment, the Showcase demonstrated the breadth of investment opportunities available in Scotland.

And our GlobalScot network also played a crucial role in preparing the companies for their visit, providing invaluable support through briefing sessions, masterclasses, showcase sessions, as well as providing real time connections while in Dubai.

How have businesses benefited from the visit?

A considerable number of connections were made during their time at COP28. Companies reported that they had over 80 leads to follow up on, and some had already scheduled follow-up meetings with potential partners and customers.

And in true style of the power of bringing people together, one attendee at the Strathclyde Business School reception explained that one company’s products was exactly what his business needed.

After months of preparation, these connections are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the delegation and the support they received from our offices in Scotland and in market, The Scottish Government , Scottish Chambers of Commerce , and our GlobalScot network.

We were also thrilled at the news that Edinburgh-based Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) is to supply their vertical farming tech to ReFarm’s new ‘GigaFarm’ in Dubai’s Food Tech Valley , which will revolutionise sustainable agriculture practices in the region. We have supported IGS for some time, and were delighted with this development, particularly given their participation in our ClimateTech investor showcase in Dubai at Expo 2020.

So what’s next??

We will continue to work closely with the Scottish companies that participated in the delegation, providing them with the support they need to realise the opportunities that have been generated, which in turn helps Scotland move forward in our ambitious net zero targets.

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If you would like to find out more about how we can support your overseas growth ambitions, get in touch with us, or visit our website.