Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has signed a range of agreements to support the development of the offshore wind sector.

The group will now work with four of the region’s leading ports to help attract a potential £100m of investment to the Highlands.

First Minister Alex Salmond announced the Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in his keynote speech at the Offshore Wind and Supply Chain Conference in Aberdeen on 29 January.

The agreements have been signed with Global Energy Nigg, Port of Ardersier, Kishorn Port Limited and Cromarty Firth Port Authority.

The First Minister said: "We are working hard with our enterprise agencies both to secure overseas investment into our world-leading renewable energy industry and to support Scottish businesses to seize the huge opportunities available, working in partnership with inward investors and the rest of the supply chain to create jobs and help re-industrialise communities right across Scotland.

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"These ports are ideally-positioned to become key hubs for the deployment of offshore wind, wave and tidal energy - across manufacturing, assembly, operations and maintenance - and the new Memorandums of Understanding with Highlands and Islands Enterprise underpin the importance that we attach to ensuring that all of Scotland wins from the renewables revolution."

Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of HIE said: "The offshore wind supply chain is showing strong interest in Scottish ports and harbours, and these official agreements give the market the strongest possible statement that the ports in the Highlands and Islands are open for renewables business.

"HIE is fully committed to working with ports across the region to ensure that they are ready to support manufacture, fabrication, assembly, deployment and operational support for the Scottish, UK and European offshore wind market."

(IT)