Opportunity Cromarty Firth and Forth Green Freeport have been awarded Green Freeport status as part of the UK and Scottish government-partnered scheme.
The two consortiums have secured £25m in seed capital as well as £1m in short-term revenue each from the UK government to develop their existing facilities and invest in port upgrades.
The sites are expected to bring forward an estimated £10.8 billion of private and public investment and create over 75,000 high-skilled jobs.
The awarding of Green Freeport status will also provide the winners with a number of relief benefits such as tax breaks and rebates for green investment as well as simplified planning zones.
These will be applied within a circular site boundary with a diameter of 45km, as outlined in each of the group’s bids.
Opportunity Cromarty Firth is being led by Port of Cromarty Firth, Global Energy Group, and the Port of Inverness as well as Inverness Airport.
It aims to create 25,000 jobs and generate £4.8bn in investment, with a focus on floating offshore wind, nuclear and hydrogen.
An expansion of the Inverness Campus and Powerhouse is also planned, along with proposals to deliver innovation and skills support.
Forth Green Freeport group is spearheaded by port owner Forth Ports with backing from Edinburgh Airport and other local councils.
It claims its bid will attract up to £6bn worth of investment, creating 50,000 new green jobs and generating £4.2bn in additional Gross Value Added in the first five years.
The Forth Green Freeport will have a focus on renewables manufacturing, alternative fuels, carbon capture utilisation and storage and shipbuilding, as well as the development of a creative hub.
The site includes the ports at Grangemouth, Rosyth and Leith, Edinburgh Airport and a site at Burntisland.
The other three applicants who were unsuccessful in their bids are Clyde Green Freeport, North East Scotland Green Freeport, which comprises Aberdeen City and Peterhead, and Orkney Green Freeport.
Bidding opened earlier this year and consortiums submitted their proposals for their share of the cash, which were jointly considered by the UK and Scottish governments.
As part of the process, the successful locations had to demonstrate to officials and ministers from both governments how they would regenerate communities, deliver decarbonisation, establish hubs for global trade and foster an innovative environment to support levelling up.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Working together delivers results – and I am absolutely delighted that the First Minister and I can announce the delivery of our shared ambition for people in Scotland with not one but two excellent Green Freeport areas.
“In extending the benefits of freeports to Scotland, we are unleashing the potential of the Firth of Forth and Inverness and Cromarty Firth – backing the delivery of thousands of high-quality green jobs for future generations, as we continue to make gains on our commitments to transition to net zero.”
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “Scotland has areas of outstanding opportunity but there are also places that can benefit from more investment to truly level up communities that have been overlooked.
“This is a shared challenge faced by us all across the UK, which is why I’m delighted the UK and Scottish Governments have collaborated to deliver two Green Freeports in Scotland, which will undoubtedly be transformative for future generations.
“Inverness and Cromarty Firth and the Firth of Forth are fantastic areas for these new Green Freeports to set up, ensuring the benefits are felt right across Scotland.
“This will help to create exciting new jobs, boost business and encourage investment in the local areas and beyond.”
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “This is a milestone achievement in the process to deliver Green Freeports for Scotland.
“Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and Forth Green Freeport will support businesses to create high-quality, well-paid jobs, promote growth and regeneration, and make a significant contribution to achieving our net zero ambitions.
“A rigorous joint selection process has been followed.
“The successful applicants showed a strong determination to embed fair work practices, including payment of the Real Living Wage, and to enshrine net zero initiatives in their work.
“We look forward to working closely with them to ensure they deliver maximum positive impact and become operational as soon as possible.
“We will also work with the unsuccessful bidders to consider how they can build on the plans set out in their proposals to deliver jobs and growth in their regions outside the Green Freeports programme.
“Scotland has a rich history of innovation, trade and manufacturing and as we look to seize the many opportunities achieving net zero offers, the creation of these internationally competitive clusters of excellence will help us to create new green jobs, deliver a just transition and support our economic transformation.”