THE agency responsible for boosting Scotland's exports needs to be more ambitious, MSPs have said.
The call features in a report produced by the Scottish Parliament's Economy Committee, which identifies widespread failings in efforts to encourage more firms to export.
The report on internationalising business says Scottish Development International must have a much bigger impact if the country's government is to meet its target of increasing exports by 50 per cent by 2017.
It follows an enquiry by the committee into why relatively few Scottish firms export, and why small and medium sized enterprises find it especially find it hard to break in to overseas markets.
The key conclusion is that SDI needs to engage lots more firms in Scotland if the country is to end its reliance on a narrow band of exporters.
Noting that 60 per cent of exports are accounted for by 100 larger companies in a handful of sectors, the report says committee members were concerned about the relatively modest targets set for SDI.
Under a programme introduced in 2014, the agency is only expected to get an additional 200 companies to export annually and a further 200 to become more active in overseas markets.
"Whilst there is positive work being undertaken to increase Scotland's export potential, it was clear from the course of our inquiry that our agencies must be more ambitious," said the convener of the Committee, Murdo Fraser.
"The Committee believes this will help to deliver the step change Scotland needs if we are to replicate the success of some of Scotland's most well-known international brands."
The report notes the committee found many positive examples of the work of SDI, which is led by chief executive Anne MacColl. It says the agency's programmes were valued by many companies.
However, the report also highlights weaknesses in important parts of the programme to help firms crack export markets.
The report notes that trade missions are organised by a range of bodies including the Scottish Council Development and Industry. It highlights the lack of co-ordination between missions and the associated problems of the duplication of work and of unnecessary competition between the organisers of such visits. The politicians say SDI should take the lead in exploring ways to resolve these problems with private sector partners.
The report also says the plethora of information that exists for companies seeking to find help to export is confusing.
It says: "Several witnesses suggested to us that prospective exporters would benefit from having access to information and support services through a single portal. This online resource would draw together information from a number of agencies and signpost users to appropriate sources of advice and support based upon their particular needs. We endorse this suggestion."
The report also recommends that SDI could enhance partnership working with organisations such as UK Trade & Investments to avoid the duplication of effort.
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