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Summit to Reveal Fast-forward Growth Plans for Aberdeen City and Shire's Economy

ACSEF's third economic summit will focus on how the private public sector partnership will drive forward its plans for sustainable growth of the local economy in the context of the current economic climate.

To be held on Thursday 11 June at the AECC the summit, which brings together 200 business leaders from throughout the region, will examine the need for both businesses and public sector organisations to take calculated risks on key projects to grow the economy.

Tom Smith, chairman of ACSEF (Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future), will give an overview of what has been achieved in ACSEF's s action plan and what still needs to be done to maintain Aberdeen City and Shire's position as a dynamic and forward-thinking region that is at the forefront of economic development in Scotland.

A debate will then take place by industry leaders on the future of the region's key industry sectors: energy, life sciences, tourism and food and drink.

Keynote presentations from Sir Ian Wood and Susan Rice, Scottish Director of Lloyds Banking Group will focus on the region's position within a global economy. This will be followed by a full and frank debate on how the region makes things happen with Sue Bruce and Colin Mackenzie, the chief executives from Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council respectively.

Tom Smith said: "When we held our first summit in 2007, businesses asked for action. We can now demonstrate that action is what we are delivering. We have moved forward on a variety of fronts but particularly in our priority areas of transport, planning and city centre regeneration, skills development and inward investment.

"This summit promises to be even more stimulating and thought-provoking as we focus on moving forward at pace with some very bold and ambitious projects against a back-drop of a global down-turn and a much slower-moving economy.

"The overall aim of the summit is to engage with local businesses - the drivers of economic growth. The event will ensure they are fully up to speed on our progress and aware of how they can contribute to the delivery of our vision of long-term prosperity for the next twenty five years. It is crucial that local business is at the heart of shaping our agenda for economic growth. If we can create the right conditions for growth, it is these businesses that will flourish and help sustain our prosperity now and in years to come."

It was at last year's summit that ACSEF announced its new private sector led model to take forward the partnership's significant progress to date on the economic manifesto and bring about a step-change in the delivery of economic development.

This manifesto or action plan, which pulled together the ambitions of over 1,200 organisations, aims to grow the economy and enhance the region's quality of life. These over-arching objectives will be achievable if ACSEF delivers against seven strategic priorities centred around transport, skills and recruitment, planning, city centre re-generation, internationalisation of the region's energy base and attraction of corporate head-quarters.