NICOLA Sturgeon has sought to forge an alliance with Scotland's biggest business organisation over the forthcoming referendum on Britain's membership of the EU.
In a speech to the annual CBI Scotland dinner in Glasgow tonight, the First Minister repeated her commitment to remaining part of the 28 state bloc, and acknowledged the business organisation's role in Britain joining the Common Market in the 1970s.
She reached out to CBI Scotland after relations between the organisation and the Scottish Government broke down in the run-up to last year's independence referendum.
CBI Scotland initially registered with the Electoral Commission to campaign officially for a No vote.
It later withdrew its registration but remained highly critical of the Scottish Government's case for independence.
Ms Sturgeon laughed off the rift as she told told an audience of 600 business leaders: "I'm delighted to be here. "I've not been here for the past couple of years, for some reason."
She promised increased government help for exporters and said a new trade and investment strategy, to be published later this year, would increase the "global profile" of Scots firms.
Turning to the EU referendum, due to be held by the end of 2017, shean audience of 600 business leaders: "I'm delighted to be here.
"I've not been here for the past couple of years, for some reason."
She promised increased government help for exporters and said a new trade and investment strategy, to be published later this year, would increase the "global profile" of Scots firms.
Turning to the EU referendum, due to be held by the end of 2017, she said: "When the CBI was founded one of its key aims was that Britain should join the Common Market.
"The decades since have justified that stance. Scottish businesses benefit greatly from access to the European market – exports to Europe support 330,000 jobs."
She added: "That doesn’t mean we see the EU as perfect – we have consistently made a constructive case for reform.
"But we want to work to improve the EU, rather than arguing argue to leave it.
"We want to build on the partnerships of the future. Who knows? We might see the Scottish Government and the CBI on the same side in a referendum."
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