Ghanaian Cocoa Farmers Visit Scotland's First Fairtrade Town

Speaking at the event, John Swinney said: "The Fairtrade group in Aberfeldy has successfully engaged the local community in its activities and has acquired the status as Scotland's first Fairtrade town. This is a great achievement and I warmly congratulate the group on its success.

"This "Cocoa and Kilts" has been hugely informative about the challenges of life in Ghana and has demonstrated how our support for Fairtrade in Scotland can benefit the lives of others in different countries. It was fascinating to hear how much of a difference being involved in Fairtrade production had made to the lives of the Ghanaian farmers.

"The Fairtrade movement has made many strides in recent years but it is essential that its agenda is taken up by Governments around to world to make a real difference to trade between countries. Our world will not prosper harmoniously if there is such an imbalance in trade and the gap between rich and poor countries grows ever wider. The intense activity around the Make Poverty History theme last year must be maintained.

"This local event in Aberfeldy - a town that has achieved much for the Fairtrade agenda - will be a great step forward in that debate and I encourage active local support for the initiative."