Scottish Finance Secretary Welcomes Japan Marine Energy Deal

Finance Secretary John Swinney welcomed a deal between the Orkney based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and the Ocean Energy Association of Japan (OEAJ) to develop Japan’s first marine energy test centre.

The Finance Secretary will next month travel to Japan and South Korea to promote Scottish industry including expertise and investment opportunities in Scotland’s renewables industry.

EMEC commercial director Richard Morris today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to share Scottish expertise in marine innovation to support Japan’s focus on developing viable alternative energy generation following last year’s Fukushima disaster.

Mr Swinney will undertake a series of business meetings and engagements to strengthen economic and cultural links between these key markets. He said:

 “Scotland is blessed with some of the world’s greatest green energy resources offshore. Through EMEC’s unrivalled expertise and the critical mass of companies now developing wave and tidal technologies in Scotland, we are leading international efforts to harness the unbridled energy of the seas to deliver safe, secure and sustainable energy and help protect the planet for future generations.

 “Next month I will undertake a programme of visits in Japan and South Korea to support Scottish businesses, and of course Scotland already enjoys successful commercial relationships in the energy sector with major Japanese and Korean firms such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Doosan and Samsung.

“There are currently 65 Japanese companies that have invested in Scotland resulting in over 4,000 jobs. In January Samsung Heavy Industries announced that it is to base its first European offshore wind project in Fife in a £100 million inward investment venture expected to create more than 500 new jobs in Scotland.

 “The State of the Economy report published this week shows positive growth in sectors of our economy such as food and drink, hotels and catering, and business services against a difficult economic backdrop. It notes that as a small open economy, the strength of the recovery in the months ahead will depend on events in Scotland’s key export markets and the ability to increase our share of global investment and trade, and develop new markets.

 “This visit will provide an opportunity to expand on these and to promote Scottish successes in these key markets.”

SDI Chief Executive Anne MacColl added:

 “As one of the largest economies in the world Japan offers huge opportunities for Scottish companies across a range of key industries including life sciences, renewable energy, chemicals and electronics.

 “Japan is working hard to put in place strategies to make it faster and easier to do business in the country and it’s vital that we act now to develop relationships and partnerships in the region to build on our current success.

 “Scottish companies must recognise the changes that are happening in the global marketplace, where the opportunities will exist in the future, and ensure they are able to respond to what’s happening internationally. It’s SDI’s role to help them do this and I hope this visit will further strengthen Scotland’s relations with Japan to support more Scottish companies to trade there and just as importantly, to encourage more Japanese firms to locate and invest in Scotland.

“SDI has worked extensively with both EMEC and OEAJ and in doing so, was able to successfully identify and facilitate the collaboration opportunity between these two pioneering organisations. The signing of the MoU will help Scotland to increase relationships with Japanese partners, giving the Scottish marine energy sector an extra competitive edge and ultimately driving home wealth for the Scottish economy.”

John Swinney will travel to Japan on April 14, visit Korea on April 19 before returning to Scotland on April 21.

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd provides internationally recognised and independently accredited purpose-built, open sea test facilities for wave and tidal energy converters in the world class wave and tidal conditions of Orkney, Scotland. With 14 full-scale test berths, it is home to some of the most innovative marine energy devices currently in development.

The Ocean Energy Association of Japan promotes the utilization of ocean energy in Japan and contributes to the realization of a sustainable society by fostering cooperation between industry, government and academia. The OEAJ believes that it is of the most fundamental importance to utilize the ocean, which covers 1/3 of the earth’s surface, if we are to successfully tackle the world’s energy problems and global warming. To this end the OEAJ provides symposia, related information, proposals to the governments, such as this marine energy test centre and promotes international cooperation.

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Offshore WIND staff, March 12, 2012