Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has set out what its members want from the next UK government.
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Specific requests in the Chamber’s General Election Manifesto include more collaboration between the UK and Scottish governments, a 50-year energy strategy and acceptance of the final recommendations from the Airports Commission.
The manifesto was developed in consultation with Chamber members and asks the next UK government for support to drive growth in the region.
President of the Chamber Alec Carstairs said: “Members of the Chamber are ambitious for the future. They want to grow, they want to employ more people and many want to export.
“Our members want a government that is supportive to these goals of growth and opportunity rather than a constraint
“This document will be used to assess the performance of the next UK government on how they perform against business needs for the North-east of Scotland.”
The Chamber has identified seven key areas for action:
· Reduction of unfair costs to business,
· Appropriate devolution of further powers
· Future-proofing of energy generation,
· Skills shortages
· Export support
· Investment in the energy future
· Improvement of the region’s transport connections
Copies of the manifesto will be distributed to local candidates in the North-east as well as party leaders and their likely cabinet members.
Robert Collier, chief executive of the Chamber, added: “Even in the context of the current challenges, Aberdeen and Grampian is a powerhouse of the UK economy and local businesses can contribute even more to the economy if the next UK Government delivers support to enable growth.
“We believe our actions are simple, pragmatic and deliverable to ensure the North-east remains at the heart of a successful UK.”
