I SPENT a few days last week in the USA, flying the flag for Scotland in two of that country's most important cities - New York and Washington DC.

 

Some might ask if it's worthwhile for a First Minister to undertake these visits.

My answer is a definite yes. In fact, it's not just worthwhile - it's vital.

It is hard to overstate the economic importance of the USA to Scotland and that makes it essential that we engage with companies and potential investors and get the message across that we are open for business.

The USA is one of our most important export markets, providing customers for some of our most important and iconic products, like whisky.

While I was there, I helped a relatively new Scottish company launch itself in the US market - and with a product most people wouldn't normally associate with Scotland.

The Wee Tea Company from Perthshire grows premium tea here at home and is now starting to supply hotels in New York.

It is a big success story and just one example of how much potential there is for Scottish companies to internationalise and export their goods overseas.

But the U.S. isn't just an important export market for Scotland - it's also the source of a great deal of investment into Scotland.

American companies based in Scotland employ large numbers of people - in fact we are the best performing part of the UK, outside London and the southeast of England, when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment.

It's important to our economy to attract even more of that investment. While I was in New York, I was able to announce two new investments into Scotland. One was by Jabil, a global manufacturing services company, that is set to expand its operation in Livingston with a new centre of excellence that will safeguard 147 jobs and create 200 new jobs.

The second announcement was by a company called Spire, which is active in the space sector.

Spire designs, manufactures and manages the data from nano satellites.

It has decided to locate it's European HQ here in Glasgow, a decision that will create 50 new, high value jobs and also strengthen Scotland's reputation in a key growth sector of the future.

So the economic importance of getting our message out there in the U.S. can't be overstated and my visit gave me the opportunity, through a large number of TV and radio interviews - including one on the famous Daily Show - to promote all that Scotland has to offer.

I also had the opportunity to meet some key figures, like the Deputy Secretary of State and the head of the IMF, and make speeches at the World Bank and the Council on Foreign Relations, to raise awareness of the work Scotland is doing to grow our economy and tackle inequality.

The other value of trips like these is to learn lessons from best practice elsewhere.

Scotland has a great deal to offer the world in terms of our approach to key economic and social issues.

However, we also have a lot to learn.

That's why I was keen to visit a school in New York to learn about some of the groundbreaking work it has been doing to raise attainment.

Initiatives to improve science teaching and engage parents more fully in school life have proved successful in driving up standards.

I have brought lots of ideas back with me to discuss with my colleagues as we develop our own initiatives to raise standards in our schools.

I also had the opportunity to visit a children's hospital in New York which is developing close links with Yorkhill Children's hospital here in Glasgow.

The St Andrews Society of New York - which brings together ex-pats and others with connections to Scotland - has raised money for both hospitals, which is now being used to develop exchange programmes for clinicians and researchers.

So all in all, my visit to the U.S. was a worthwhile exercise.

It got the message across very strongly that Scotland is a good place for Americans to visit, study in and invest in.

And it also enabled me to learn some lessons about innovative ways of working in health and education that we can usefully apply here at home.

As we continue to encourage investment from the U.S., and support our companies to break into the American market, there is no doubt that the contacts and connections made over the last week will prove to be invaluable.