Wellbeing Economy Secretary will tell a conference that
Glasgow must keep reinventing itself as a major driver in our
country’s economy.
At today’s State of the City Economy Conference, Mr Gray will
outline work completed through the Scottish Government’s £520
million City Region Deal investment and support ambitions to make
Glasgow a metropolitan region.
The city produces more than a third of Scotland’s jobs and in
2021 contributed £48 billion to the economy (Gross Value Added).
The Cabinet Secretary will encourage local government and
business leaders to make even more of Glasgow’s strengths –
including the research excellence of its universities – to
innovate and contribute to a wellbeing economy.
Mr Gray said:
“This city has transformed itself again and again to become a
vibrant hub of economic and cultural diversity.
“It’s one of the reasons Glasgow leads the UK, beyond London, in
this year’s World’s Best Cities Report. A year when the Cycling
World Championships wheeled into Glasgow. A year when Banksy
spray-painted his way to the city’s Gallery of Modern Art. And a
year when the Burrell captured the collective imagination to win
Art Fund Museum of the Year.
“In March, the Sighthill Bridge opened. It is a vital link
between Sighthill and neighbouring communities. It was further
striking this year to witness the arrival of another new bridge,
this time reconnecting Govan and Partick. I look forward to
seeing the opening of this new crossing next Spring.
“We will work to empower the region to not only drive forward the
Clyde Mission, alongside the City Region Deal, but also to make
the most of the spending and tax reliefs brought by hosting an
Investment Zone.
“We want to support local government and business to transform
the Glasgow City Region in a way that puts the wellbeing of the
people first, grows the economy and improves the environment.
“We want to see that compelling vision of the Glasgow
Metropolitan Region that you aspire to be. We want to get a feel
for how it will work. And we want a taste of what it can
achieve.”
Background
Today’s 25th State of the City Economy Conference is Glasgow City
Council’s principal economic event, bringing together senior
representatives from government, commerce, academic institutions
and the third sector to focus on Glasgow’s economy and to look
forward to the next 12 months.
