Two California-based digital entrepreneurs have been added to Scotland’s growing network of global trade envoys to promote the transatlantic tech trade.
Suneil Mishra and Andy MacMillan join nine others on the board, which was set up in 2017 to help identify opportunities in new international markets.
Trade minister Ivan McKee said the pair will provide insights, intelligence and advocacy focused on building trade, with a “particular focus” on high growth markets in technology.
They will also support export interests more generally through trade-related visits and events, such as Tartan Week and Startup Grind, which brings together entrepreneurs from around the world.
Mishra is President of business consultancy Mishra Consulting LLC and has worked in new and emerging technologies for over 25 years as an investor, consultant and entrepreneur.
Macmillan, who graduated from Edinburgh University in 2003, is the chief executive of tech and enterprise software company UserTesting.
The new appointments follow the recent announcement of the first US T&I Envoy Stephen Leonard, and two London-based Capital Investment Envoys, Garry Bernstein and Paul Taylor.
Mishra said: “Andy and I are excited to raise the profile of Scotland in the most technologically advanced and largest economy in the world.
“We will not only be promoting Scotland as a source for innovative solutions in this competitive market but also as a destination for expanding the global footprint of US companies.”
Mr McKee said: “Our growth export plan A Trading Nation committed to expanding the volunteer Envoy network to up to 12, and it’s great to have Suneil and Andy on board, taking our numbers up to 11.
“The network has already had great success in opening doors, and identifying strategic opportunities to support our export, capital investment and Foreign Direct Investment efforts. Our USA-based Envoys can provide further insights, intelligence, introductions and advocacy focused on building trade, as well as inward and capital investor relations, with a particular focus on high growth markets in technology.”
The announcement follows the recent publication of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation, which outlines how Scotland can grow its international tech exports.
McKee added: “One of the key ambitions in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation is to harness trade to support our wider economic, social and environmental aims, by opening new markets and building a fairer and more equal society.”
The US is Scotland’s top international export market, accounting for 17 per cent of total exports, and remains Scotland’s number one inward investor.
There are 660 United States-owned companies in Scotland, employing 112,740 people with a turnover of £31 billion.