FORMER Labour enterprise minister Wendy Alexander is among a new team of trade envoys unveiled today by the Scottish Government.

The former MSP and Scottish Labour leader was earlier this week appointed to the Scottish Government’s new Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board. She is vice-principal at the University of Dundee and leads the university’s international strategy. She and other members of the team will be tasked with championing Scottish businesses abroad and representing Scotland’s export interests.

The other appointees are Ainsley Mann, a former CEO of Coca-Cola Bottlers (Holding) Co Ltd in China and now heading up Hong Kong-based Swire Properties in Indonesia, and who is also the current chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia; Martyn O’Reilly, a wealth manager and former deputy chairman of the British Polish Chamber of Commerce and Dubai-based Nick Maclean, executive director and managing director of Middle Eastern Business at CB Richard Ellis, the largest commercial real estate services and investment firm in the world.

They will help identify specific business opportunities in new overseas markets where there is currently untapped potential.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “Trade and export is vital to our economy and we have brought these experts on board to help us prepare to meet the challenges of the future. We already have strong partnerships throughout the world, but it is important we continue to cultivate these and have people in place who can promote Scotland to international businesses and markets. Scotland is a small country which continually punches above its weight, and it will be the job of the new trade envoys to promote our businesses and skills even further on the world stage.”

Neil Francis, of Scottish Development International, said: “International trade and investment play a vital role in growing Scotland’s economy and there is a huge amount of work going on across Government, SDI, the Scottish Chambers network and industry to help make sure more Scottish companies are aware of and benefit from the opportunities that exist in overseas markets.”

The envoys will take up unremunerated roles and will be appointed for two-year terms.