Now, our relationship with the European Union might well be changing, but with two thirds of Welsh exports currently going to the European market, we will do everything possible to maintain a relationship with the European single market that allows companies to maintain free and unfettered access. Now, we have seen an increase in the value of exports in the last few years, and we need to continue that positive momentum. Our continued support for Welsh exporters will help to achieve this goal, and by making this support one of our five calls to action, we will help Welsh businesses to maintain exports to the EU, as well as accessing new markets in North America, the middle east and beyond. And across Government, but particularly with the assistance of my friend and colleague Lesley Griffiths, we are ensuring that companies—large, small and micro-sized companies—have access to trade missions, and it's particularly apparent in trade missions concerning Welsh food and drink, which is becoming increasingly recognised for the high quality of produce and the strong provenance of the goods that we are able to take overseas. 

Now, I'm pleased to be able to say that we are allocating resources from the £7.5 million business resilience fund recently approved through the European transition fund to support campaigns and activities that help companies to establish the traction that they need in new markets, and that positions us, I think, to keep Wales's international profile as a location for investment strong and positive. Our overseas offices are, indeed, vital to this agenda, and they are multifaceted, covering business, culture, education and tourism. We've already embarked upon a strategic expansion of this network, opening, in recent months and in the past few years, new offices in key markets, which include Canada, and Qatar, and Germany, and, of course, France. Over time, these offices will build upon the existing links that are already established in those territories and their respective markets and deliver even greater gains for Wales.

Now, our relationship with our partners in the UK Government's Department for International Trade, and also the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, ensures that Welsh companies have access to the full range of support to promote their goods and services overseas, as well as promoting the message that Wales is a great place in which to do business, a great place in which to learn, and a superb place in which to live.

The Wales brand now provides a firm foundation for our work to promote Wales in a wide range of markets across all channels and all sectors. It underpins more than £10 million of marketing spend per annum in the tourism and business sectors. It also is used at prestigious events, such as the UEFA Champions League final, the Ryder Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race. It can be seen at iconic locations across Wales, from the airport to stadia. It's also applied to all our food and drink marketing, and it's a major aspect of our international health recruitment campaigns. It's also worth saying, Dirprwy Lywydd, that it is an internationally renowned, award-winning brand campaign. It's delivering tangible results right across the economy. Tourism marketing alone has delivered an additional spend of around about £350 million a year for the economy, and this has doubled since 2013, and it supports thousands upon thousands of valuable jobs in Wales. It's just one example of how raising our international profile and having a consistent, strong and compelling brand has benefited the people, the economy and the country of Wales.

Tourism is often identified as the flag carrier for the country, and the themed years have been carving, I think, a much stronger and clearer and distinctive proposition for Wales, and this is indeed being noticed. Many awards have been bestowed upon Visit Wales for the thematic years campaign, and it's no doubt one of the most successful branding exercises and campaign exercises in the UK in recent times, but we cannot stop here, and our economic action plan sets out the Welsh Government's commitment to building and maintaining European partnerships in areas of common interest. Seventy-seven per cent—I believe it is—of Welsh food and drink exports alone went to the EU in 2017. Therefore, it's vital that we maintain strong links to this important region despite Brexit. We'll also continue to develop new ways to build and maintain European partnerships through investing in networks and bilateral co-operation with partner countries and regions. From our existing support for exporters in Wales to the work that we undertake with our own overseas network and its partners, all of our international activity demonstrates the Welsh Government's commitment to this crucially important agenda. The relationships that we have built in Europe and beyond have been enhanced by the recent commitment to expand our overseas network, ensuring that the Wales offer to businesses, to tourists, to students is visible and as far-reaching as possible. And, we won't stop here, as we continue to help businesses to explore new markets, to attract overseas students and visitors and create lasting partnerships that will meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Can I just say finally, in reference specifically to recommendation 1, every time a Minister travels abroad, they are subject to a freedom of information request, and, consequently, often criticised for the costs incurred in promoting Wales abroad. So, please, if the new First Minister does create a role for international trade and Brexit, as you have strongly recommended, then please, please recognise that their travel and subsistence costs will be much higher than others in Government. So, please don't call today for this, only to tomorrow condemn such a person for the cost of doing the job right.