A Conservative minister will try and reassure Dundee business chiefs that the economy will thrive after Brexit.
Lord Dunlop, who titles himself as the UK’s Dundee minister, will also insist the Tory Government “stands ready” to forge ahead with a Tay Cities Deal, which would unlock hundreds of millions of pounds of funding.
But he highlighted the importance of the private sector in the investment, which may raise doubts that Tayside is getting as much public cash as those areas, such as Aberdeen and Inverness, which have already secured city deals.
In a speech to Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, he is expected to say: “While we are leaving the EU we are not leaving Europe.
“We are going to remain the same outward looking, globally minded country that we have always been.
“We are going to open up our trade to new markets and use this opportunity to innovate and create growth.”
Lord Dunlop, who is Scottish Secretary David Mundell’s second in command at the Scotland Office, said the Tay Cities Deal has the “potential to build on the substantial investment that has already been made in Dundee”.
He talked up the role of the private sector in making a success of any city deal.
“Let’s be clear UK City Deals are not primarily about more public funding to enable local authorities to dust off their favourite list of as yet unfunded projects,” he is expected to say.
“UK City Deals are about achieving a step-change, targeting public funds to create the conditions to attract even greater multiples of private sector investment.
“And that’s why the private sector must be involved from the outset in the development of the vision and of the detailed plans.”
A bid for the deal, which is being put together by councils in the area, is due to be lodged shortly.
