First Minister welcomes Japanese Ambassador to Scotland

First Minister John Swinney has welcomed the Japanese Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Hiroshi Suzuki to Scotland.

On Thursday, the First Minister hosted Ambassador Suzuki and several prominent representatives of Japanese businesses operating within Scotland at an event at Bute House.

On Friday, the First Minister and Ambassador Suzuki will visit a whisky distillery together to highlight the strong economic ties between both nations across various sectors including food and drink, green energy and AI.

Ahead of the visit the First Minister said:

“Our relationship with Japan is both long-standing and hugely valuable to Scotland's economy.

“Both countries share a mutually beneficial working relationship on key future industries, such as the green energy transition, AI and biotech.

“Japan is also a key trading partner for Scottish businesses especially those operating within our whisky sector. In 2024, whisky exports to Japan reached £182 million, up over 7.1% from 2023.

“I am committed to strengthening these ties and improving cooperation between both countries in the years to come."