IT IS difficult to write or talk about the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games without using superlatives.

Magnificent, marvellous and brilliant (pure dead?) are just a few of the words used to describe their experience of the Games. I heard at least one participant claim the event was "the best Games ever".

Sandwiched between the attention-grabbing opening ceremony and the rousing handover at Hampden to Queensland, have been 11 days of world-class sporting competition.

The highlights will vary from person to person and largely depend on nationality, but I was immensely proud to see Team Scotland enjoy its most successful Commonwealth Games.

Superb performances from the likes of Euan Burton, Hannah Miley, Ross Murdoch, the Renicks sisters, Libby Clegg, and Neil Fachie and Craig Maclean will live long in the memory, as will the joy of bowler Alex 'Tattie' Marshall and the smile of 13-year-old swimmer Erraid Davies.

I also found the spirit of friendship inspiring, particularly the appreciation and support afforded to the 'Auld Enemy'.

But the Games are much more than a series of near-superhuman displays of sporting prowess. Glasgow's business community has emphatically declared that the anticipated increase in trade has exceeded all expectations.

Retailers, hoteliers and taxi firms have basked in the Games glow, while one restaurateur likened it to a long 'Black Friday'.

And the legacy of the Games needn't be the preserve of the host city; the Games have placed Scotland in the spotlight.

Events like the Commonwealth Games Business Conference - a joint venture between the UK Government, UK Trade & Investment, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government, sponsored by EY - have opened the eyes of international delegates to the strengths of Scotland's businesses while alerting firms to the opportunities that exist among Commonwealth members.

The prize is considerable. The Commonwealth, comprised of 71 nations and territories representing 2.3 billion people, is forecast to enjoy average economic growth of 4.1 per cent per annum between now and 2025. In comparison, the economies of the European Union and USA (Scotland's main trading partners) are expected to grow by just 1.8 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively.

And yet current levels of trade do not reflect the importance of the Commonwealth to Scotland as an economic entity bound by historical and cultural ties. In fact, some of our closest European competitors, including Germany, France and Belgium, export more to developed and developing Commonwealth nations.

Some of the best opportunities lie within manufacturing, a sector crucial to the Scottish economy. The Commonwealth imports over twice as many manufactured goods than services.

Prior to the Games, First Minister Alex Salmond said that Scotland has never enjoyed a higher profile on the international stage, while Scottish Enterprise CEO Lena Wilson heralded the country's reputation for "trust, honesty and transparency" .

Scotland is held in high esteem for its innovative spirit. We are at the vanguard of engineering excellence. Our natural resources are said to be the envy of the world. We punch well above our weight in attracting investment from overseas companies.

So how can Scotland's businesses gain ground on non-member states? Those interested in expanding their operations overseas or establishing trade links have access to the expertise of business leaders across the globe via the GlobalScots network.

Our UK chairman Steve Varley suggested at the Commonwealth Games Business Conference that it is time we ended our preoccupation with the BRIC countries, or, at the very least, target the Commonwealth with the appropriate zeal.

Perhaps Scotland's businesses believe that trade with some Commonwealth nations might be more challenging or costly. However, studies suggest it costs 20 per cent less to do business with members of the Commonwealth due to similarities in legal structure and language.

If the Games have been used in a manner that overcomes those issues and secures trade and investment between Scotland and its fellow Commonwealth nations then it could prove to be the greatest victory of all.

Douglas Nisbet is Glasgow office managing partner at EY, official professional advisor and supporter of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games