6. What is the Welsh Government doing to promote its economic action plan within the business community? OAQ52092

We've held face-to-face discussions with a range of businesses of all sizes, from a breadth of sectors at locations right across Wales, with major business representative organisations, including the Confederation of British Industry, the FSB and the Welsh Retail Consortium. We've also used digital and other channels to communicate the plan more broadly. This approach will continue over the coming months.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that response and for attending the Newport business summit, which I hosted last week. The summit brought together businesses and public sector leaders from across the city, and their ambition and positivity about Newport as a place to do business was evident. Collaboration and partnership is key, and I know that the Cabinet Secretary is keen to engage and listen to the business community. Inclusive growth and futureproofing the economy for the challenges ahead is vital. What more can be done to ensure that we provide the right environment for businesses to flourish, creating jobs, innovation and improving skills for the benefit of all?

Can I thank Jayne Bryant, not just for the question but also for kindly inviting me along to the event last week at Celtic Manor? It was a great event and well attended. I believe, after I left, a number of speakers made contributions welcoming the partnership approach that they've taken with the Welsh Government. I think it's important that we continue to ensure that businesses and Government don't co-exist but collaborate more. We're going to be doing that through the economic contract, ensuring that there is investment with a social purpose from the Welsh Government. I've been stunned, quite frankly, by the number of businesses who have embraced this concept—the need to ensure that Government and business work hand in hand to the same purpose, which isn't just to grow levels of wealth in Wales, but to ensure that we're also growing levels of well-being, and that we're reducing inequalities in both. With regard specifically to Newport, I have to say I think it's an incredibly exciting time right now for Newport, with the International Convention Centre Wales, the removal of the tolls on the M4, CAF and, of course, the compound semiconductor cluster. It all shows that Newport is open for business.