The Scottish Government said a new enterprise agency will be created to meet the economic needs of communities in the South of Scotland.

It said a final report from the Enterprise and Skills Review contains a wide range of measures to support business, ensure young people have access to the right skills, and create growth across the Scottish economy.

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy Keith Brown launched the report while meeting with Kite Power Systems – a company that has secured £7 million of equity funding for its innovative approach to harnessing wind energy.

Brown said: “This report shows how we can transform the performance of our economy and enable more businesses to deliver strong, vibrant and inclusive growth at scale.

“From better co-ordination of our international activity to ensuring young people are equipped with the skills they need to succeed, this review has delivered a package of reforms that will drive change across the country.

“We have recognised the importance of providing dedicated support to the South of Scotland in the same way we currently do for the Highlands and Islands.

“A new agency will be established to meet the distinctive economic needs of communities in the South of Scotland.

“We are putting a greater urgency behind our innovation action plan and joining up the efforts of our skills agencies to help learners and businesses get the training they need.

“Businesses will benefit from streamlined innovation support through a new digital access point, building on the recent success that has seen Scotland move into the top group of EU nations as regards innovation performance.

“The fundamentals of Scotland’s economy are strong and – as this report confirms – we are doing all that we can to build upon these further.”