Around 1,000 UK food and drink firms will be helped to follow the example of leading north and north-east food firms under an exports action plan launched by the UK Government last night.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said it would deliver a £500million boost to the economy.
But the Scottish Government said Westminster was only starting out on the “journey” it had already been on since 2007 to boost exports from north of the border.
Holyrood’s SNP administration is working on its own export plan, which aims to boost the value of food and drink exports and total sales to £7.1billion and £16.5billion respectively by 2017.
Food and drink is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, with annual turnover of more than £90billion.
Exports from the industry in Scotland in 2012 were worth £5.31billion, making it the second best year on record for overseas sales of produce including whisky, shortbread and salmon.
The UK Government’s new Food and Drink International Action Plan will be overseen by UK Trade and Investment and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
It is part of Westminster’s overall ambition to raise UK exports to £1trillion and to get 100,000 more companies exporting.
The new action plan was launched at a food and drink trade fair in Cologne, Germany.
It was also announced that food was to be one of the main pillars of a marketing campaign, GREAT, showcasing the best of British business globally.
Mr Paterson, who just a few days ago hailed Walkers Shortbread and Aberlour whisky as shining examples of UK export success during a visit to the two Moray businesses, said: “Brand Britain is recognised and revered internationally.
“The exports action plan and the launch of Food is GREAT are important, as they will give quality British produce an even higher profile, boost our economy and create jobs.
“There are huge opportunities for British food companies to export all over the world and I’m determined to help our firms exploit them.”
Richard Lochhead, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for rural affairs, said: “The UK Government has at long last started out on a journey we began in 2007.
“Since then, Scotland’s food and drink growth sector has smashed industry turnover and export targets six years ahead of schedule, growth in Scottish food exports has outperformed that of the UK’s as a whole between 2007 and 2012, and exports of Scotch whisky were up by more than 50% over the same period.
“We are not going to rest on our laurels and our forthcoming export plan will set out in practical terms how the Scottish Government and our agencies will work with Scotland’s food and drink industry to achieve its ambitious new goals.”