MAXIMISNG OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS IN NEWPORT  

4/10/2011 

Speaking after Conservative Councillor David Williams presented a petition to Russell George AM on behalf of the National Assembly Petitions Committee calling for the City of Newport to be designated as an enterprise zone, William Graham AM said: 

‘There has been widespread disappointment that the well-established Cardiff Business District has enterprise zone status whereas the underperforming Newport City Centre has been ignored. With so much untapped potential existing in the City I would urge the Minister for Business, Enterprise and technology to consider extending the status to Newport and abandon the sector-oriented approach to Enterprise zones.’   

The Conservative AM for South Wales East also pressed the First Minister during Assembly questions to outline how the Welsh Government has converted the opportunities presented by hosting last year’s Ryder Cup into real achievements, particularly in terms of the levels of inward investment attained: 

‘While the Ryder Cup has left an important legacy of improved infrastructure and boosted golf tourism to Wales by 21% with the sport being worth £42 million to the Welsh economy, predictions that event would yield significant long term investment and new business for the local private sector have been realised with mixed success. The Conservative-led Newport Council has taken an impressive lead in promoting the City as a place to visit and invest, but this must be supported by a Welsh Government strategy focussing on inward investment and maximising opportunities for the area’s existing firms.’ 

‘During the last Assembly the First Minister responded to my requests to  publish a list of firms attracted to Wales after discussions at the Ryder Cup in Celtic Manor by indicating that the Welsh Government had several promising leads but that they had to remain private owing to commercial sensitivity. While the First Minister’s reply today that negotiations with potential investors are still occurring is encouraging, I believe that the Welsh Government should publish a review of their work in attracting investment arising from opportunities presented by hosting the Ryder Cup to gauge the effectiveness of the approach taken.’