23 Apr 2025
By Richard Muir, Deputy Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
As Glasgow marks its 850th year, it’s fitting that we’ve had the chance to tell our city’s story on the world stage. I recently led, alongside Scottish Chambers of Commerce, a delegation of businesses in New York as part of Tartan Week – a cultural celebration with commercial clout.
Our mission was simple: strengthen ties, open doors, and build momentum for international trade. And that’s exactly what we did.
Glasgow is Scotland’s economic powerhouse – the only metropolitan city region in the country, contributing more than £53 billion annually. We represent a third of all Scottish jobs, businesses and GDP. But statistics only tell part of the story. What we aimed to do in New York was show the energy, creativity and investable potential Glasgow and Scotland’s businesses have to offer.
Glasgow traders have been criss crossing the Atlantic for over 400 years and I’ve always said international trade is in the Chamber’s DNA. After all, we were founded in 1783 by Glasgow’s merchants and entrepreneurs of the day to do exactly this – open up new markets and opportunities. That pioneering spirit is very much alive today.
Throughout the week, we met with a range of influential partners, including old friends at the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, with whom we’ve held a memorandum of understanding since 2016, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which is doing impressive work to create an inclusive and globally competitive economy. We also spent time with international trade association BritishAmerican Business and the United States Council for International Business, exploring transatlantic collaboration in areas ranging from sustainability to certification and compliance.
The United States is Scotland’s most valuable individual export market and our biggest investment partner. In 2022, Scottish exports to the US were estimated at over £5.1 billion, excluding oil and gas. That relationship flows both ways. Glasgow-based businesses like ultra-premium spirits producer Edrington are successful in the States and beyond while American firms such as JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley have established major operations in our city.
One of the standout moments of the trip was our business networking reception in Edrington’s midtown offices. It brought together Global Scots, senior government officials, and business leaders to celebrate what we’ve achieved and set out a vision for what’s next. It was a real privilege to welcome First Minister John Swinney, Secretary of
State for Scotland Ian Murray, and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to the event, especially as all have shown strong cross-party support for international trade and it was great to see them all engaging positively with our businesses during the mission.
That same day, we saw the signing of a new memorandum of understanding between Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce – a milestone that strengthens our existing relationship with the Manhattan Chamber and opens new doors for collaboration in the future.
We’re already exploring ideas around mentoring support for Scottish businesses entering the US market, helping companies refine their pitch and presence in New York, and continuing to promote Glasgow’s investable propositions because we have a great story to tell – and key infrastructure projects in the pipeline that can be transformational for our city and region.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the drive and enthusiasm of our delegation. Businesses like Dram Communications, Tethered, The Gael Spirits Co. The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, Street Soccer Scotland, Little White Rose Films, Tots United, Angelwax, Trump Turnberry, and The Scottish Asian Business Chamber – to name just a few – brought real value and ambition to the table. My thanks to all of them. Our city strapline is ‘People make Glasgow’ but behind that we need people with drive, commitment, passion and expertise and we had that in abundance from all of the group.
Tartan Week culminated in the iconic NYC Tartan Day Parade, marching up Sixth Avenue in a proud celebration of Scottish identity. But for us, the work doesn’t end there. It’s just beginning.
This trade mission was all about building momentum – creating meaningful, lasting partnerships that can grow over time. I left New York with a sense of pride, purpose, and no shortage of follow-ups to pursue. And I truly believe with continued collaboration, ambition and investment, Glasgow’s business story will reach a wider and more receptive audience and lead to lots of positive outcomes for our businesses and our city.
