“This visit is about speaking up for Scottish businesses and Scottish exporters,” Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said as he set off on Sunday 15 February 2026 for Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. The Scotland Office confirmed a week-long Indo-Pacific programme spanning trade promotion and defence talks - with clear read-across to yards and suppliers from Barrow to the Tyne. (gov.uk)

Culture travels with the briefcase. Alexander will attend the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s international shows - Brisbane on 12–15 February at Suncorp Stadium and Auckland on 19–21 February at Eden Park - a high‑profile shop window for Scotland’s brand overseas, the government said. (gov.uk)

On security, ministers frame Australia and New Zealand as two of the UK’s closest defence partners. In July 2025, Britain and Australia signed the 50‑year ‘Geelong Treaty’ under AUKUS - a bilateral pact the UK says will underpin submarine programmes, support tens of thousands of jobs and unlock up to £20bn in export potential. (gov.uk)

Why it matters in the North: BAE Systems’ Barrow shipyard - the only UK facility licensed to build nuclear submarines - has grown from just under 11,000 workers in 2023 to around 13,500, with demand projected to reach 16,500 by 2027 as Dreadnought, Astute and SSN‑AUKUS move in parallel. That momentum relies on suppliers across Cumbria and the wider North. (gov.uk)

The nuclear enterprise stretches beyond Cumbria. Australia’s A$4.6bn commitment to Rolls‑Royce’s Raynesway reactor line is expected to create 1,000 UK jobs, while fresh agreements with Western and South Australia focus on skills pipelines to sustain AUKUS work. For advanced manufacturers in our patch, that signals longer‑term order books. (theguardian.com)

Surface‑ship programmes tell a similar story. A&P Tyne has fabricated units for Type 26 frigate HMS Belfast, and Cammell Laird’s Birkenhead yard delivered a 1,000‑tonne propulsion block for HMS Birmingham up the Clyde last spring. “We are extremely proud to be playing such a significant role,” APCL chief executive David McGinley said at the time. (ap-group.co.uk)

The trade track is built on live agreements. UK membership of CPTPP took effect on 15 December 2024 - with Australia joining the UK schedule from 24 December - and the Australia‑UK FTA has been in force since 31 May 2023. Officials say more than 99% of current UK goods exports to CPTPP members will be tariff‑free, a helpful tailwind for Northern exporters eyeing Asia‑Pacific. (business.gov.uk)

Alexander’s line is unambiguous: “The UK is a strong and committed partner - in security, in trade.” He added that Scotland’s offer runs from whisky and seafood to financial services and renewable energy technology - sectors with deep ties to Northern ports, consultancies and engineering firms. (gov.uk)

Officials say the visit will mix ministerial meetings with business roundtables across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, aiming to open doors for exporters and attract investment back home - a message that will resonate with manufacturers and maritime firms across the North. (gov.uk)

The Scotland Office notes this is the first visit to New Zealand by a Scottish Secretary in recent years. We’ll be watching for any memoranda or procurement tie‑ups that steer real work into Northern supply chains - from specialist steel and composites to complex systems and through‑life support. (gov.uk)