The chairman and chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Dr Jim Hunter and Sandy Cumming have spent today (Wednesday 4th April) visiting key agencies and businesses in Moray - coinciding with the inclusion of East Moray into the HIE area.

Their itinerary includes a meeting with Moray Council, Moray College and representatives of the Keith Initiative.

The inclusion of East Moray into the HIE area - it was formerly part of Scottish Enterprise - was announced by Deputy Minister for the Highlands and Islands Alasdair Morrison at the end of last year and took effect from the 1st April.

Today's visit represents the latest steps in HIE's programme of assimilating the new region. HIE chief executive Sandy Cumming said: "This is another 'early learning' opportunity for us and we are essentially here with a listening brief. We want to better understand the issues, concerns and indeed the expectations of the people of East Moray.

"The area presents HIE with some very exciting challenges - the population growth alone is substantial but also the inclusion of many new communities whose interests and aspirations we will do our very best to satisfy.

"From the very outset businesses and organisations in the area can now tap into the range of assistance and investment packages which HIE has to offer. We are very keen to see the businesses in the area, some of whom have already played a role within the old HIE territory, come on board and work with us to secure more development and create more prosperity."

The full itnerary is:

09:30 Moray College

10:45 Keith Tartan Museum

12:15 Moray Council

13:00 Moray Leisure Centre

14:45 Vertex Data Science Ltd (Former Cap Gemini Ernst and Young call centre on Forres Enterprise Park)

15:30 Forres Enterprise Park

MBSE chief executive Dick Ruane will accompany Jim Hunter and Sandy Cumming during their visit, along with MBSE chairman Jim Lochhead. Dick Ruane said: "The characteristics of East Moray, a largely rural area, mean it will fit well within the Highlands and Islands Enterprise network, its programmes and its priorities. The communities of Elgin, Lossiemouth, Keith, Buckie and many others can look forward to the assistance of an agency with a very strong track record in both social and economic development."