“Wales means business” – First Minister’s message to the USA

“Wales means business” – that’s the message the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones will take with him on a visit to North America today.

As part of a drive to further raise Wales’ profile in the world’s largest economy, the First Minister will make his first ever visits to Atlanta, Cincinnati and Chicago, where he will meet key political and business leaders.

The First Minister will also address the Chicago Council on Global Affairs about Wales’ future post-Brexit.

The five-day visit is part of the Welsh Government’s approach to attracting inward investment into Wales – an approach which will be accelerated as part of a coordinated response to Brexit.

The United States of America is one of Wales’ most important trading partners. There are over 250 North American companies based in Wales – including GE Aviation, Ford, and General Dynamics, with many Welsh companies also investing and doing business in North America.

The Welsh Government has a network of trade and investment offices across the United States, based in in Washington D.C., New York City, San Francisco, Atlanta and Chicago.

The visit comes on the back of a series of record breaking years for inward investment to Wales.

Speaking ahead of the visit, First Minister Carwyn Jones said:

“We have been incredibly successful over recent years at attracting global businesses to Wales – and creating high quality jobs.  With inward investment at a 30 year high, our efforts in attracting business and investment is resulting in more and better jobs being created here in Wales.

“Announcements from Aston Martin, MotoNovo, TVR, Essentra, EE and BT have demonstrated our growing reputation as the go-to country for businesses to locate to and trade from.  But we need to do more to attract more investment in the future, not less. We need to take an ever more proactive approach to going out there, promoting Wales on an international stage, and reminding the world that all the things that have made Wales great, continue to make Wales great.

“Post-Brexit, we must sell Wales to the world like never before. Wales must remind the world we mean business.  That’s exactly what I’ll be doing this week in the USA.”