WHITEFORD WELCOMES WHISKY EXPORT FIGURES
Friday 8 May 2009
VITAL BANFFSHIRE INDUSTRY SHOWING INTERNATIONAL RESILIANCE
SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed the latest figures from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) which show that exports reached a new high of over £3bn in 2008.
New figures published by the SWA show that the value of shipments increased by 8 per cent to £3.06 billion. The good news for the whisky industry comes just weeks after local MP and First Minister Alex Salmond secured key concessions on 'Geographic Indication of Origin Status' from the Chinese Government during his recent trade mission to that country.
Welcoming the news, Eilidh Whiteford said:
"This is very good news indeed for the industry, particularly at this difficult time for the economy.
"The whisky industry is a vital component of the Banffshire economy and provides employment in some of our most rural communities, as well as providing support for local trades and suppliers.
“Securing Geographic Indication of Origin Status has been a vital issue for the industry, and the progress between the Scottish and Chinese Governments presents important commercial opportunities for Scotland.
"I was delighted to be able to visit Glenglassaugh Distillery near Portsoy last month which is one of the real success stories of the industry, having been re-opened after 20 years of being mothballed. Stuart Nickerson and his team there have some ambitious plans for the brand and for the distillery itself and the figures released by the SWA can only be good news for them."
SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has welcomed the latest figures from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) which show that exports reached a new high of over £3bn in 2008.
New figures published by the SWA show that the value of shipments increased by 8 per cent to £3.06 billion. The good news for the whisky industry comes just weeks after local MP and First Minister Alex Salmond secured key concessions on 'Geographic Indication of Origin Status' from the Chinese Government during his recent trade mission to that country.
Welcoming the news, Eilidh Whiteford said:
"This is very good news indeed for the industry, particularly at this difficult time for the economy.
"The whisky industry is a vital component of the Banffshire economy and provides employment in some of our most rural communities, as well as providing support for local trades and suppliers.
“Securing Geographic Indication of Origin Status has been a vital issue for the industry, and the progress between the Scottish and Chinese Governments presents important commercial opportunities for Scotland.
"I was delighted to be able to visit Glenglassaugh Distillery near Portsoy last month which is one of the real success stories of the industry, having been re-opened after 20 years of being mothballed. Stuart Nickerson and his team there have some ambitious plans for the brand and for the distillery itself and the figures released by the SWA can only be good news for them."
