It was timely, therefore, that last week's SCDI annual forum tackled the subject of "connectivity" and, if there was one thing that the national and international speakers agreed on, it was that economic isolationism would simply compound our problems.

The Highlands and Islands know very well that peripherality and small markets are barriers to growth.

Fortunately, as the first minister and secretary of state emphasised, our governments are more interested in the economic stimulus of investment in improving connectivity, and over coming months we must all drive forward this agenda in this region.

New connections to our key markets in the rest of the UK and Europe would grow our exports and attract inward investment and tourism.

But there is a danger that the declining passenger numbers affecting all airports, including Inverness, will lead to fewer flights. So a priority for SCDI will be looking at how new routes in and out of Scotland can be developed.

Our competitors are embarking on the next stage of the digital revolution, building broadband networks 10 times faster than our current capability.

Key growth sectors in the Highlands and Islands, like life sciences, creative industries, and energy, require more bandwidth to run data-hungry applications, but it is peripheral areas like this one which are least able to make the business case for investment. So SCDI's intends to work with BT Openreach and HIE to identify how regions such as the Highlands can benefit in the future.

New connections are fundamental to our efforts to tackle climate change.

The National Grid is looking at subsea cables to connect the vast wind, wave and tidal potential in the Highlands and Islands to England, but international cooperation is also required to develop a North Sea super grid, which will ultimately form part of a Europe-wide system. This is a message which SCDI is delivering to Westminster's Energy and Climate Change Committee.

It is more vital than ever with opportunities in the domestic market shrinking that organisations, especially in the SME sector, are aware of the benefits to their businesses of international trade.

I would encourage SMEs to attend a business seminar which SCDI and Scottish Development International are organising in Inverness later this month to help SMEs target their efforts effectively on the opportunities which are still available. Poland is a large market which is still growing and, that is why, with financial support for participants from HSBC bank, SCDI is organising a trade mission to the country in May. Given this region's strong links with Poland, I would urge Highland SMEs to explore these opportunities.

Openness to new ideas, opportunities and connections is now essential. That is why I was delighted that, with support from HIE, 10 growing Highland companies involved in energy, health sciences, creative industries and ICT, and education, participated in SCDI's forum.

Making these investments in the Highlands' connectivity — electronic, physical and economic — will create jobs and businesses now, and build a platform for our future competitiveness.

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