Actions required to accelerate recovery and improve the long term performance of Scotland's economy were set out today in a update of the Scottish Government's Economic Recovery Plan.

Finance Secretary John Swinney identified a number of priorities for the coming months that he considers key if sustainable economic growth is to be increased.

• The development of a low carbon economy to harvest Scotland's unrivalled energy resources and deliver the world's toughest emission reduction targets
• New inward investment, a scaling up of support for Scottish exports and continued focus on tourism initiatives
• Continued improvement of Scotland's planning regime and streamlined support for new domestic and inward investment
• Ensuring improved access to finance to support investment for growth
• A renewed focus on commercialisation to translate Scotland's natural and intellectual assets into future growth, through innovation, leadership and management skills
• Directing resources towards skills and training to manage the ongoing employment pressures in Scotland

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"We are further improving Scotland's planning system by even better alignment of activity, efficiency of process and easing of constraints, ensuring the planning system supports economic development where appropriate.

"Meanwhile, our interaction with banks and the introduction of the new Scottish Investment Bank will help with the availability of appropriate levels of finance to support investment for growth."

(GK/BMcC)