Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport has reached a final milestone with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the UK and Scottish governments, Highland Council and ICFGF.
The agreement concludes a five-year process and unlocks £25m in UK government funding to support infrastructure at partner ports.
ICFGF said the Green Freeport will deliver over 11,000 long-term jobs in the Highlands and attract more than £6.5bn of investment over the next 25 years.
The MoU signing took place at Aurora Energy Services’ new £1.2m training centre in Inverness, which is expected to train 2000 workers annually for the renewables sector.
ICFGF has already helped to attract investment, including Sumitomo Electric’s £350m subsea cable plant at Nigg, which will create more than 150 local jobs when it opens next year.
Ardersier Energy Transition Facility has also secured a £100m joint credit facility and placed contracts with more than 110 local firms.
ICFGF chief executive Calum MacPherson said the milestone “is truly a historic moment” and reflects “shared ambition… to deliver jobs, investment and supply chain growth.”
Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander said the Green Freeport “will transform the economy of the Highlands, as well as playing a key role in our clean energy future.”
Deputy first minister Kate Forbes added the scheme “aims to bring up to 11,300 jobs to the Highlands” in line with fair work policies.
The Green Freeport’s three tax sites span Cromarty Firth, Ardersier and Inverness, with incentives designed to attract companies in offshore wind, green hydrogen and advanced manufacturing.