The north-east is currently the best place in the world to invest in green energy, according to Scotland’s finance secretary.

Kate Forbes told business leaders there is as an “enormous opportunity” to attract investment in low carbon technologies, saying that COP26 had demonstrated the markets are “serious” about investing trillions in renewables in the coming decades.

Several European nations – including Finland and Denmark – are seeking to become low carbon energy hubs as the world pivots towards new energy sources.

However, Ms Forbes suggested that the skills, people and companies rooted in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire put it ahead in the race to become Europe’s net zero capital.

“The North-east is the perfect location,” she told guests at a leadership dinner held by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

“Not just within Scotland, not just within the United Kingdom, but actually across the world in terms of bringing together talent, ingenuity, innovation and resilience.”

She added: “A few months ago, I had the pleasure of being in Denmark and Finland and other European countries – and all of them are selling this notion that they can be the green capitals of the world.

“There are enormous economic opportunities that come with this green revolution and nations are out there pitching.”

Many guests at the dinner, held at the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen, added their support to the North East Scotland Green Freeport bid, which has securing Net Zero Capital of Europe status for the region as one of its central aims.

Guests show their support for the region's green freeport bid

Guests show their support for the region's green freeport bid

The Scottish and UK governments are working together to create two green freeports in Scotland by next year. The special economic zones will offer tax breaks and lower business tariffs to stimulate investment.

As many as 32,000 jobs could be supported in an £8.5billion boost to the regional economy, if the joint Aberdeen and Peterhead bid was successful.

Given the Scottish Government's role in the decision-making process, the Cabinet Secretary was unable to discuss the green freeport race.

However, she said the North-east would be critical to helping deliver her plans to transform Scotland’s economy over the next 10 years.

She said: “If I, the government and all of us have the objective that Scotland’s economy ourperforms the last decade, and takes growth seriously, then there is no achieving that without the north-east. That is an absolute fact.”

Her National Strategy for Economic Transformation, which was published in March, sets out five key policy programmes, including a drive to boost inward investment in green technology and developing supply chains to maximise the economic benefits of projects like ScotWind.

“Let’s create jobs in Scotland, rather than creating jobs elsewhere,” she said.

“Let’s build on our strengths," said Forbes

“Let’s build on our strengths," said Forbes

The SNP minister took an honest look at Scotland’s economy in shaping her programme, looking for areas where Scotland could “outperform the rest of the world”.

“The most successful countries are the countries that focus and build on their strengths,” she said.

“Let’s build on our strengths (a vast array of natural assets) and ensure that we're not just on the playing field when it comes to the sectors or industries we focus on, but that we are winning the games, because that's what matters.

“We want to see real tangible change in 10 years time, so that in a decade from now whoever is standing here speaking to you can say those decisions that we made in the aftermath of COVID, in the face of one of the most challenging economic periods, have borne fruit. That's the vision.”

Can you read the National Strategy for Economic Transformation in full here.

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