Azeem Ibrahim Meets First Minister Alex Salmond to Discuss Taking Scotland Forward.

Following his meeting at The White House with President Bush earlier this summer, Azeem Ibrahim, the young Scottish entrepreneur and founder of ECM Holdings, has met with First Minister Alex Salmond at the Scottish Parliament to outline his vision to the Scottish Government for helping Scotland become a wealthier and fairer place to live.

Entitled 'Taking Scotland Forward', Mr Ibrahim's proposal comprises a range of practical measures designed to generate business for Scotland and stimulate the economy, as well as his business vision for a 'Scottish Rainmakers' programme.

The proposal comprises a series of 'Highly Focused Trade Fair' events, with the first keynote event designed to invigorate trade between Scottish and Turkish business people, focusing on specific areas in which Scotland specialises.

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Planned to take place in Scotland in the spring or summer of 2009, this large-scale initiative will be augmented by a range of other practical measures, including further trade fairs involving Scotland, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mr Ibrahim said: "Amongst the various initiatives I discussed with Mr Salmond were a Dubai contact-centre company which would like to explore the possibility of relocating to Scotland with a new development in the form of a Scottish Beachhead office. This will allow Scottish exporters to also have a physical office presence in Dubai.

"Other practical measures include educational cooperation between Scotland, Turkey, Malaysia and the UAE, focusing on Scotland's expertise in the aquaculture industry."

32-year-old Mr Ibrahim, currently worth an estimated £60m, began to accumulate wealth in 2004 when he set up a leading e-commerce facility selling international maritime, transport and logistical insurance online. He is also the owner of ECM Holdings, which owns the European Commerce and Mercantile Bank and other financial concerns. Awards and recognition have come thick and fast for Ibrahim, described by peers as a brilliant young scholar, financial wizard and a gifted entrepreneur.

(GK/JM)