SCOTLAND’S SMALL size can be an advantage in boosting its economy, First Minister Jack McConnell said in Dundee yesterday.

Mr McConnell outlined his vision for the future of the country’s economy at the Scottish Enterprise Network Conference at the Apex Hotel.

He said it was Scottish Enterprise’s duty to help grow the private sector and that he wants Scotland’s economy to have real long-term growth, but that he wants to see that growth happening faster.

The Scottish Enterprise Network (SEN) consists of Scottish Enterprise and 12 local enterprise companies, working in partnership with the private and public sectors.

It aims to build more and better businesses, to develop the skills and knowledge of Scottish people, and to encourage the innovation required to make Scottish business internationally competitive.

Mr McConnell also said that it was vitally important for SEN to continue to develop partnerships with public bodies—such as universities and those involved in regeneration—but ultimately he wants to see a shift in the Scottish economy, where a sharper public sector will support an expanded private one.

“Scotland is a small country. Being small means we can work better within our enterprise networks and others to focus on growth—in ways that just couldn’t be managed in other countries,” he said.

“But being small does not mean we think small. The opposite is true. And now is the time for us all to think, and act, big.”

Mr McConnell also said it was important that steps are taken to increase the speed at which Scotland’s economy is growing.

“Creating more wealth will create more opportunities—and the opportunity to work or enter business is the best way out of poverty,” he said.