Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State
met
students from Kelvin College, Glasgow and heard about
their textile design project, run in collaboration with
students at a women’s community college in Guntur,
India. The project centred around the history of the
famous Paisley Pattern, which originated in India, and
culminated in joint fashion shows in both Paisley and
Guntur.
Lord Ahmad visited the Scottish Youth Parliament to
meet young people active in their communities,
including individuals who will attend the Commonwealth
Youth Forum during the summit. They discussed issues
facing young people in Scotland, and how the summit can
best capture the voices and interests of young people
across the world.
He also attended a lunch with diaspora members and
faith representatives to hear about how different
communities will be involved with the Summit and to
uncover more about the international relationships that
act as living bridges between Scotland and other
Commonwealth countries today.
In April, the UK will host the annual Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting with world leaders
travelling in to take part in a week-long programme of
activities.
Lord Ahmad said:
My father arrived in Glasgow from the Indian
subcontinent in the 1950s and made a home in the UK.
For this and many other reasons, Scotland, and its
Commonwealth ties, is very important to me.
The Commonwealth is a unique family of nations and
its members account for two and a half billion
people. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
in April will focus on young people as we strive to
meet the aspirations of the one billion people in
Commonwealth countries under the age of 25. I want to
see Scotland, especially its young people, involved
in shaping decisions that affect their future.
I am incredibly confident in the future of the
Commonwealth and the role Scotland has to play in it.
Lord Ahmad met , the Scottish
Government Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and
External Affairs, to discuss the key role that the
Scottish Government has in the run up to the
Commonwealth Summit, including through hosting
Commonwealth ‘Big Lunches’ and engaging young people.
