Scottish Secretary Michael Moore visited Camelon bus builders Alexander Dennis Limited as part of a whistlestop tour.
The Minister was given a briefing by the senior management team on Wednesday before being shown round the factory and meeting some of the workers.
He said: “Companies such as ADL are a great example of a firm making the most of having facilities across the UK to support its domestic and international trade.
‘‘That supports 2000 jobs directly and 5000 indirectly and helps the economy grow at the same time.
“The auto industry is an essential industry sector and the UK Government has taken action to help support it. The UK provides the platform, reach and expertise needed for its success and this government will continue to support it as we work to re-balance the economy and secure future growth.”
An ADL spokesman said: “We were delighted to show the Secretary of State around our facility where we continue to employ 900 people and remains the headquarters of our expanding international business.”
The company, saved from oblivion by a consortium of high-profile Scottish business bosses after the collapse of the Mayflower Corporation in 2004, is now Britain’s biggest bus builder.
Its ground-breaking fuel-saving Enviro and EnviroH vehicles, the only buses in production using electric power, are sold around the world.
Now the manufacturer of choice for the bulk of bus operators in the UK, its state-of-the-art single and double deckers are in high demand with ADLs market share in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Hong Kong and China continually growing. This year the company expects 35 per cent of its production to be sold overseas.
During this summer’s Olympic Games around 2000 buses it has built and already in service will be used to ferry athletes, officials and fans to the venues around London.
The Minister claimed Scotland’s businesses are on a “winning streak” thanks to the Games following news companies have clinched contracts worth over £30 million as a result.
He said: “Although the Olympics are being held in London we are determined Scotland does not miss out and as we get ever closer to the spectacle of the Games it is good to see Scotland’s economy is also benefiting from firms winning contracts.
‘‘There are many benefits to Scotland which come from the Games and related activity such as tourism will help boost the economy further.”
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