ALEX Salmond claimed yesterday that he would be judged on his success in growing Scotland's economy, describing it as the "defining mission" of his government.
The First Minister told a business audience in the United States that he would create a "Celtic Lion" economy in Scotland and that this was "within our grasp".
Speaking at the start of Scotland Week – a series of events to promote Scotland in th
e United States – the First Minister championed the cut in business rates which comes into force today.
Addressing a joint gathering of Harvard's Center for European Studies and the Business Schools, Mr Salmond said: "I want to speak with you about the growing ambition in my country, our belief and our aspiration in building a Celtic Lion, a new economic powerhouse that will be one of the great success stories of the global economy.
He said this is "the defining mission of my government".
"It is the purpose that lies at the heart of the decisions we have already made, and those which are to come," he added.
"It is an aspiration that is within our grasp. And, on the eve of a major tax cut for Scottish business, it is an ambition we are daily bringing to reality.
"Scotland will become a Celtic Lion. We will build an economy that is the envy of Europe. That is my aim. That is my ambition."
The First Minister has already pledged to increase Scotland's growth rate to the UK average by 2011 and to match the growth rates of small independent countries like Ireland and Iceland by 2017.
He believes that, if he can achieve that, he will have created a Celtic Lion economy.
Mr Salmond also urged American entrepreneurs last night to "go east" and invest in Scotland.
"The legendary Horace Greeley urged a generation of Americans to 'Go west, young man'. Nearly 200 years later, the time is right for American business to focus their investment in a different direction.
"My message now is 'Go east, young industry'. East to Scotland. Invest in the economies of the future, where the prospects are brightest. And make that investment in Scotland, which I believe has one of the brightest prospects across all Europe."
Last night's address at Harvard was the first of three speeches Mr Salmond will give this week.
The second is on democracy at the University of Virginia and the last on energy at the National Geographic Society in Washington.
Mr Salmond said that the week will showcase Scotland's academic reputation, business expertise and cultural success.
Also in America this week is Jim Mather, the enterprise minister, who was in Seattle yesterday to host a breakfast for Globalscot members – business people with Scottish connections – and a Scottish Development International reception.
Mr Mather will meet Microsoft managers in California today, before travelling on to Texas where he will visit Houston and Austin.
Linda Fabiani, the external affairs minister, is also in the United States, attending cultural events in New York and Washington this week.
New name and a new tone as week gets seriousTHIS week's programme of events in the United States has been renamed Scotland Week from the previous Tartan Week to make it clearer to Americans what it is all about.
But, as well as the change in name, there has been a change in tone.
Instead of the high-profile Scottish Village in Grand Central Station and the glamorous Dressed to Kilt fashion evening of previous years, there are more serious speeches by the First Minister and smaller events, with invited guests.
There has been some concern from those involved in previous Tartan Week programmes that this year's events will be too low-key.
It has also been suggested Alex Salmond will merely to talking to those who already know about Scotland, rather than spreading the message to a new audience.
Many of the people who will attend the events are either from the Globalscot business network or are so-called "affinity Scots" – people who already have some knowledge of Scotland.
However, a spokesman for the First Minister insisted that the scope of this year's events was much wider than in previous years, taking in Texas and California, as well as Washington and New York.
He also said that Mr Salmond's speeches would reach a wide audience, and would not just be aimed at affinity Scots.
