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Manfacturing: First Minister Alex Salmond unveils plans for 33% expansion by 2030 in independent Scotland

SNP leader claims scheme would mean 50% rise in exports and 100,000 new jobs

First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday unveiled a plan to increase manufacturing in an independent Scotland by almost a third by 2030.

The SNP leader said the plan would create a 50 per cent rise in exports and boost employment by more than 100,000 jobs in the long term.

But the Scottish TUC warned that it was “unconvinced” over the jobs claim.

Alex Salmond said: “In an independent Scotland, we will be able to design an economic policy framework to take advantage of our great wealth and resources.”

The plan includes the creation of an innovation agency and a business development bank alongside tax measures to support industry. Investment would be targeted at reindustrialisation while a network of 70 to 90 overseas offices would also be set up to boost exports.

The Scottish TUC welcomed the First Minister’s “strong commitment to growing manufacturing in Scotland” in the new report but warned it might not be sufficient to overcome the “long-term structural problems that afflict manufacturing across the UK.”

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