Trade body Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) has launched its Scottish Government election manifesto designed to make Scotland the “engine room” of the UK economy.

SFE said it is the “principle voice” for Scotland’s finance industry, which it said is worth £17.7 billion to the economy and is by far Scotland’s most valuable export, according to recent figures from TheCityUK.

The SFE manifesto calls on all political parties to “commit to a presumption against further income tax divergence with the rest of the UK, as well as a wider simplification of the tax system to drive growth.”

SFE also said incoming ministers should also consider bringing senior business people into substantive roles in government “as many other countries with higher growth rates have successfully done.”

The manifesto calls for the Scottish government to introduce a binding annual economic growth target.

“The call is part of a package of measures designed to make Scotland the ‘engine room’ of the UK economy,” said SFE.

“SFE is calling on all political parties to adopt the measures ahead of Holyrood elections next month.

“SFE is the principle voice for Scotland’s finance industry, which is worth £17.7bn to the economy and is by far Scotland’s most valuable export, according to recent figures from TheCityUK.

“The SFE manifesto also calls on all political parties to commit to a presumption against further income tax divergence with the rest of the UK, as well as a wider simplification of the tax system to drive growth.

“Other measures include the expansion of the use of private capital in major infrastructure projects, the Investment Acceleration Unit to fast-track critical planning applications and a meaningful review of university and college funding.

“SFE said the measures would help ‘turbocharge’ economic growth, as well as reset the relationship between government and business.”

Scottish Financial Enterprise CEO Sandy Begbie said: “The next Scottish government, whatever its make-up, has a huge opportunity to turbocharge economic growth in Scotland.

“That is why Scottish Financial Enterprise is calling for the introduction of annual growth targets, as well as a presumption against further tax divergence with the rest of the UK, as part of a package of measures to turn Scotland into the engine room of our economy.

“By following these measures, the next administration can not only stimulate growth, strip away red tape, and encourage investment – they can also fundamentally reset the relationship between business and government. Incoming ministers should also consider bringing senior business people into substantive roles in government, as many other countries with higher growth rates have successfully done.

“Only by working with Scotland’s world-leading sectors, including financial and professional sectors, can the next Scottish government deliver on its ambitions, boost growth and increase the tax revenues that support the public services on which we all rely.”