20 February 2019
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was in Paris for a series of meetings and engagements to promote trade and investment and to strengthen ties with France.
France is Scotland’s third largest export market and biggest export market for food and drink.
FM @nicolasturgeon will work to strengthen trade links with France during a two-day visit ?????????
The FM will lead a delegation of @ScotDevInt companies & officially open the new @ScotGovFrance hub before speaking at @AssembleeNat
Find out more
?https://t.co/5dRDcikYdR pic.twitter.com/0IwbmxSLOT— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) February 18, 2019
The First Minister’s two-day visit kicked off with a meeting with the Minister for European Affairs Nathalie Loiseau.
#RoyaumeUni@NathalieLoiseau a reçu aujourd'hui @NicolaSturgeon, Première ministre de l’Écosse.
? évocation des grands dossiers d’intérêt commun
?renforcement des relations franco-écossaises.? ➛ https://t.co/OmFvM4HrHh pic.twitter.com/WL7nOituMp
— France Diplomatie?? (@francediplo) February 18, 2019
During the meeting the First Minister set out her commitment to EU nationals living in Scotland.
Later that night the First Minister welcome hundreds of guests to the official launch of the Scottish Government’s new France office.
She said:
“By promoting trade and investment, and officially launching our new hub in Paris, the Scottish Government is working to show Scotland is open for business and an attractive place to invest, visit, work and live.”
The new @scotgov office in France is officially opened by @scotgovfm We look forward to continue working together!
Le nouveau bureau du gouvernement écossais est officiellement ouvert par @NicolaSturgeon Nous aurons plaisir à continuer de travailler ensemble!@ScotGovFrance????????? pic.twitter.com/LktbhB48l0— Scotland House (@ScotlandHouseEU) February 18, 2019
As well as strengthening trade and investment during her time in Paris the First Minister also highlighted our cultural links.
She visited the Orchestre de Paris to announce their appearance at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.
ICYMI! We're thrilled to announce that @OrchestreParis will be appearing at #edintfest this August to give two concerts at the Usher Hall. Read more: https://t.co/Jjuq1didvj
? Sacha Lenormand pic.twitter.com/JayJ7OCGYF
— edintfest (@edintfest) February 19, 2019
And she also had a series of meetings with businesses like Accor Hotels, and hosted a wellbeing economy governments roundtable to discuss future partnership working.
This afternoon FM @NicolaSturgeon met with New Zealand & Iceland ambassadors, OECD chief statistician & representatives from France & Sweden for a discussion on wellbeing economy governments & forging closer links & partnerships ?? ?? ?? ?? ??????? pic.twitter.com/XLgXQHTLej
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) February 19, 2019
Brexit was the focus of a couple of sit down interviews with Le Monde and France 24 with both outlets keen to understand the Scottish Government’s stance.
And the First Minister discussed climate change and gender equality with the Mayor of Paris before presenting her with a gift of Isle of Harris gin.
J’ai le plaisir de recevoir aujourd’hui à l’Hôtel de Ville de #Paris @NicolaSturgeon, Première ministre d’Ecosse. cc @PKlugman pic.twitter.com/br1HRuKkJc
— Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) February 19, 2019
The final stop of the day was a session with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly about Brexit and the Scottish Government’s support for EU nationals.
“We will always stick up for their rights – in recent months we have lobbied successfully to ensure EU citizens would not have to pay a fee to obtain settled status in the UK. And we will always make it clear that EU citizens are welcome. In fact in the coming months, we plan to step up our efforts to encourage EU citizens to stay in Scotland.”
The full speech is available to read now.
?️?Cet après-midi, la @AN_AfEtr a reçu en audition @NicolaSturgeon, Première ministre d'Écosse, pour échanger sur les conséquences du #Brexit et le renforcement de la coopération entre la France et l'#Écosse. ??????????
➡️Vidéo: https://t.co/JMzm8tiYCD pic.twitter.com/d0L3Cfmwti— Commission des affaires étrangères (@AN_AfEtr) February 19, 2019