Strathspey Holyrood candidate backing Green Jobs Fund drive
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Inverness and Nairn SNP candidate Fergus Ewing has set out his vision for growth in the North economy after the Covid crisis.
It includes a commitment of more than £6 million to go straight to the Highlands and Islands Enterprise to help with the delivery of the Green Jobs Fund.
Mr Ewing has highlighted the natural and human resources which can be used to take advantage of the increased investor interest in many of the Highland economy sectors and is spelling out where the opportunities to do more exist.
The SNP manifesto has committed to over £6 million to go to HIE to help with the delivery of the Green Jobs fund.
Mr Ewing said: “I am pleased to see the SNP has committed to the Green Jobs fund which will transform our Highland economy and our industries in the north.
“In the Highlands we have great potential for renewable energy, with huge opportunities in tidal, wind and pump storage.
"This fund will allow projects such as these and other like Nigg and the Cromarty Firth industrial development of green energy projects to thrive.
“We also have opportunities to develop our forestry sectors and expand our tourism sector based on those who come here to enjoy our landscape, countryside rivers and sea.
“We’ve seen development in our space sector at Unst, in Shetland, and in Sutherland and Benbecula and growth in our life science industries.
"These are very exciting projects that will all benefit from the extra support.
“In these, and more, HIE, the Highland Council and the Scottish Government can work as a Team Scotland to help grow, invest and expand in our sectors to help our rural economy grow.
"The big picture is that the Highlands and Islands can be the epicentre of the green recovery drive over the next five years.”
