Highlands and Islands Enterprise/Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ‘s nan Eilean (HIE) today launched the organisation’s first Gaelic Plan, covering a three-year period from 2009 to 2012.

The statutory Plan, drafted in line with the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, details HIE’s commitments towards promoting a sense of equal respect for Gaelic and Gaels, mainstreaming Gaelic in a bilingual Highlands and Islands. The Plan was recently approved by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

As well as incorporating Gaelic prominently into the organisation’s identity, marketing, publications and website, HIE is committed to ensuring client services are made available to Gaels in their language of choice.

The Plan also challenges HIE to take an innovative and ambitious approach to the development of Gaelic and fully realising its potential in the long-term growth of businesses and strengthening of communities in the Gàidhealtachd. The HIE Gaelic Plan focuses on promoting the business benefits of Gaelic, through product marketing and promotion, and in growing the creative industries, goods and services, and the tourism sector.

Sandy Cumming, HIE chief executive, welcomed the Plan, "I’m delighted to announce the publication of the Gaelic Plan for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, 2009-12. The level of ambition contained in the Plan demonstrates HIE’s commitment to the development and promotion of a bilingual Highlands and Islands treating Gaelic and English on a basis of equal respect.

"As the Highlands and Islands emerges from the effects of global recession, HIE will look to those unique elements of the region which provide us with a competitive advantage, whether they be our renewable energy resources or in this case our rich Gaelic cultural heritage and identity."

Sandy continued, "Gaelic will have a key role in delivering the Government Economic Strategy (GES) in the Highlands and Islands. HIE will, over coming weeks, bring together a group of Gaels from the business community to advise on expanding the contribution of Gaelic in delivering sustainable economic growth. HIE are also currently undertaking a procurement exercise for the delivery of Gaelic economic and community development."

Arthur Cormack, Chair of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said, “Bòrd na Gàidhlig is delighted to have approved HIE’s first Gaelic Plan.  HIE has a long and distinguished track record of supporting Gaelic developments and this Plan gives the organisation the clear opportunity to continue with such support, build on it, as well as to increase Gaelic’s visibility and use within its own services.  The services which HIE provides are vital to sustaining the Gaelic language and it has an important role, as do other public authorities, in helping to deliver the National Plan for Gaelic.  Our joint aims and aspirations revolve around growth and sustainability, focussed on strengthening communities of all kinds.  The business community has a crucial role to play in the development of the language also, and HIE is in a unique position to support the Bòrd’s continuing aspirations in this respect.

The HIE Gaelic Plan is available at www.hie.co.uk/gaelic-plan and information on HIE Gaelic development procurement at www.hie.co.uk/tenders.htm