The Forth Green Freeport (FGF) officially launched today, 12 June, after receiving approval from the Scottish and UK Governments for its Outline Business Case.

The designation includes three tax sites in Grangemouth, Rosyth, and Mid-Forth (Leith and Burntisland).

This significant milestone for the public / private consortium, which is Chaired by Dame Susan Rice DBE, will attract new businesses and new jobs into the FGF area, aided by a suite of financial incentives to deliver major economic and net zero benefits for Scotland as a whole and the local communities in Fife, Falkirk, Leith and beyond.

Focusing on the key target sectors of offshore wind, hydrogen, sustainable fuels, modular manufacturing and logistics, FGF will support the re-industrialisation of Central Scotland and large-scale economic regeneration over the next decade.

Forecasts indicate that there is the potential to attract £7bn of private and public investment over the next decade, delivering Gross Value Added (GVA) of £8.4bn. This could generate up to 38,350 well paid, highly skilled, green jobs, with almost 19,000 of these being direct gross jobs linked to the FGF’s target sectors and tax sites.

-- Advertisement --

Dame Susan Rice DBE, Chair of Forth Green Freeport, said: "This is it, Forth Green Freeport is officially open for business. It is an important time for the Green Freeport as we move through the business case development phase to delivery for Scotland.

"Through innovations in offshore wind manufacturing, assembly and commissioning, alongside innovative shipbuilding, modular assembly and hydrogen manufacture, the country's net zero targets can be boosted by Forth Green Freeport.

"This is a long-term project and one which we know will deliver real benefits to the local communities through economic growth, skills re-training and training and access to high quality, green jobs."

The potential of the FGF was highlighted by the news that Vestas has identified the Port of Leith as a possible location for a wind turbine blade manufacturing facility. This is an example of how Green Freeport status can be used to boost Scotland's renewable energy credentials with the potential to create hundreds of quality, green jobs in Scotland, supporting the just transition to net zero.

The investment incentives will only apply to businesses who commit to and deliver against a set of demanding Investor Principles that will guide all landowners and developers. This will include abiding by the Fair Work Charter, which prioritises the rights, wages and working conditions of employees. The principles also require businesses to buy into Forth Green Freeport’s net zero commitments.