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the wealth of nations

2010 will be the year of change.

The start of a new decade, it has that sense of new beginning which brings with it a sense of optimism.

Certainly the business community will be hoping the predictions and early indications that the recession has turned the corner and that we are starting the uphill climb on the road to recovery will be further emphasised with more evidence of reality.

Our view has always been that it is business which will be the power house which will drive recovery but to do that there must be support from government. Whether the government itself will change remains to be seen and we won’t know that until we head to the polling stations later this year.

But the message going from the chamber network to government, whatever shape that government may take, remains the same, there must be a greater understanding between government and business and a much greater emphasis on the creation of wealth, even in these challenging times.

Around 300 business leaders and politicians were reminded of that message when Mike Salter, formerly President of this Chamber and now Chairman of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce spoke at the SCC’s annual dinner.

In particular he spoke of the priorities for Scotland and the need for government in this part of the UK to provide the infrastructure and the right environment to help business flourish.

“Since devolution, there has been in the Scottish Government, an emphasis on Social Justice and the re-distribution of wealth,” he said. “But in order for wealth to be distributed it must first be generated. Business is the engine of wealth generation and I firmly believe that the role of Government is to provide the environment, both fiscally and physically for business to flourish, provide jobs and to generate wealth and prosperity for the nation.

“Government should provide the enablers for business to do business and not weigh it down with regulation, bureaucracy and red tape.

“The priority for all of us must be ‘Let Scotland Flourish’. This must be the objective for politicians and business alike. Capital resources for infrastructure investment will be hard to come by, but with a phased approach to a plan and an open and innovative mind set with regard to sources of finance, much can be achieved. Investment made now will benefit all of us and our children. The health of the business community is essential for the health and wealth of Scotland.”