Scottish deputy first minister drumming up support for partnerships in Nova Scotia

Kate Forbes, the deputy first minister of Scotland, is in Nova Scotia as part of a trade visit.

Scotland Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has wanted to visit Nova Scotia for a long time, but her trip to the Maritimes this week is mainly focused on business.

“It’s been on my bucket list for a long time,” she told CTV News Atlantic’s Jesse Thomas on Thursday. “There are so many strong connections between Nova Scotia and Scotland.

“I’m here to engage with those who have an interest in preserving the Gaelic language and culture, but also to look at enterprise opportunities.”

Forbes, who is also the cabinet secretary for economy and Gaelic, said Scotland has seen increased interest from Canadian businesses in the last six months as the world grapples with the ongoing tariffs from the United States.

“I’m here to cement those relationships,” said Forbes, who has met with provincial ministers and business leaders in Nova Scotia. “I think there’s incredible overlap.”

Forbes noted wind energy and defence as major areas where Nova Scotia and Scotland could deepen their ties with each other.

“It’s all about how we create the jobs locally,” she said. “I think we could do so much more. Nova Scotia and Scotland have social connections, but how do we create enterprise opportunities?

“I think these connections are stronger than they’ve ever been.”

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