Welsh Conservatives would re-establish the WDA to get Wales on the road to recovery

In the Welsh Conservatives’ first major manifesto announcement, Russell George MS, the Shadow Minister for Economy and Transport has outlined plans to re-establish the best aspects of the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) to get Wales on the road to recovery.

In his article published today on the Institute for Welsh Affairs website, he writes that to help revive the Welsh economy, a Welsh Conservative government would bring back the best of the Welsh Development Agency as well as bringing together the Development Bank of Wales and Business Wales.

“Our aim would be to create a more nimble, agile, and dynamic business entity – a one-stop shop – to respond to the needs of firms large and small after the pandemic,” Mr George said, adding:

“Its reintroduction would give Welsh firms a much-needed cutting edge as we seek to take advantage of the opportunities provided by Brexit, and would build capacity in a creaking economy in desperate need of a turbo-charge.”

Mr George added that a re-established WDA forms a central pillar of Welsh Conservative policy to rebuild Wales post-Covid, noting:

“And ‘build’ is a key word.

“A Welsh Conservative government will build our nation out of the pandemic. As well as the M4 relief road, we’ll upgrade the A55 and the A40, and our plan to rebuild Wales will create at least 50,000 new jobs across a range of sectors.

“Unprecedented challenges call for unshakeable determination, and with Labour’s disastrous track record of economic mismanagement, it’s clear that Wales needs change in May – and voters will be left with a stark choice. 

“More of the same is unthinkable, and the Welsh Nationalist commitment to a referendum on Welsh Independence would unleash economic uncertainty at the very time that we should be solely focused on rebuilding Wales.”