Following the recent Scottish Parliament election, we’re pleased to see the announcement of the new Government team, and in particular to welcome Simita Kumar MSP as Minister for International Development.
At Scottish Fair Trade, alongside our colleagues at the Scotland’s International Development Alliance and the Scotland Malawi Partnership, we are writing to the First Minister and to the new Minister to offer our congratulations and to set out our shared ambitions for the years ahead.
A positive step for international development
One of the most encouraging developments in the new Government structure is the reinstatement of a dedicated Minister for International Development. In recent years, this role had been absorbed into a broader Cabinet Secretary portfolio, reducing focus at a time when global challenges demand clear leadership.
Just as importantly, the role now sits under Social Justice rather than External Affairs, moving it away from trade and reputation, and closer to its core purpose: tackling inequality, promoting human rights and acting in global solidarity. We see this as a positive and important shift.
Building on Scotland’s global role
Scotland has long shown leadership as a Fair Trade Nation, a tangible expression of our commitment to fairness, sustainability and global justice.
As we highlight in our letter to the First Minister, Scotland has an opportunity, perhaps now more than ever, to be a clear voice for peace, justice and climate action in an increasingly uncertain world. Maintaining that leadership requires:
- Strong political commitment
- Joined-up policy across government
- Continued support for civil society, partnerships and grassroots engagement
We look forward to working closely with the new Minister and Ministerial team to help realise these ambitions.
Get involved: welcome your MSP
While Ministerial leadership is vital, Scotland’s Fair Trade movement has always been powered by people and communities across the country.
That’s why we’re encouraging campaigners to take this moment to connect with their own elected representatives.
We’ve created a set of simple tools to help you do just that:
- ✉️ Template welcome letter to introduce Fair Trade and your local work
- 📄 Fair Trade Nation briefing to explain what Scotland’s status means in practice
- 🎖️ MSP Fair Trade badges a great way to recognise and encourage support
Whether you’re part of a local group, a business, a school or just passionate about global justice, this is a perfect opportunity to start a conversation with your MSP.
👉 Find out more: Election 2026 | Scottish Fair Trade
Looking ahead
This new parliamentary term comes at a critical time for global cooperation and solidarity. The challenges are significant, but so too is Scotland’s potential to lead by example.
We warmly welcome Minister Kumar to her role and look forward to working together, alongside partners, campaigners and communities, to ensure Scotland continues to play its part in building a fairer world.
