Contact with Non-EU Countries

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:56 pm on 6 March 2019.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 2:56, 6 March 2019

I think that's absolutely right, and I think, if we are going to make an impact globally now, we're going to have to learn to really specialise. That's the way that we're going to really make an impact globally, and I think your emphasis on digital is crucial. I think we probably need to go even more detailed—. I would like to see us specialising absolutely in cyber security, for example—really digging in on an area like that, making sure we have the skills available amongst colleges and universities here so that we can really attract companies. It's not just about attracting companies here that are high-skill, high-tech that can be nimble and quick—those SME companies—but actually what we want is for our SME companies to be selling their skills across the globe. And I think you're right: I think what we're going to need to do in future is to perhaps focus not just on randomly going round the world on trade missions, but to really focus on where do we want to make an impact, going to trade fairs where you can meet a whole load of different companies at the same time, but take then specialised companies in those areas. So, that's certainly something I'm exploring in the context of the new international strategy.