The body, which brings together all six local authorities responsible for the country's 93 inhabited island communities, focuses on the development of a National Islands Plan to ensure the government's commitment to empower the Scottish Islands.
The meeting was also co-chaired by hte Minister for Transport and the Islands, Humza Yousaf.
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Speaking after the meeting, Highland Council Leader Margaret Davidson said: "I was delighted to take part in this first meeting of the Islands Strategic Group as it meets to consider the strategic issues affecting all the inhabited island communities of Scotland. I am keen that we help identify and design solutions to the unique needs and challenges these communities face.
"Highland covers a vast area with some 4,412km of coastline, 1,493 islands and many remote and dispersed communities.
"We want our island communities to thrive and I am very pleased that the Scottish Government have established this group to take forward this agenda."
(LM/CD)
