3. How will the First Minister use the Rugby World Cup to promote exports from and inward investment to Wales? OAQ54442

Our activity around the Rugby World Cup primarily aims to strengthen business relationships between Wales and Japan, raise the profile of Wales and secure contracts for Welsh companies. The First Minister will be providing an update to Members about the trade mission to Japan with a statement upon his return.

That's really good news. I'm sure the Minister will join me in celebrating the fantastic result on the weekend with Wales against the Wallabies—we're getting into a winning formula here now; long may it continue—but also celebrating the fantastic Japanese win as well. Both of those matches have brought the world cup to light, but there is, indeed, a real team Wales approach going on here. Out in Japan at the moment, on the back of the Rugby World Cup, we have Trade and Invest Wales working hard, GlobalWelsh working hard on developing links with the Welsh diaspora, Wales Arts International, the Urdd and many other organisations as part of this trade and cultural mission with the First Minister. This is a real team Wales approach. Would she agree with me that the history of the success of both economic, social and cultural ties between Wales and Japan has been built on developing those long-term relationships of trust and goodwill and that it's absolutely right that on the back of the Rugby World Cup the First Minister, industry players, players from the cultural sector, should all be out there capitalising on this and building on those relationships now and for many years to come?

Thank you very much. First things first, I absolutely will join you in congratulating the team on the weekend. But the points that you make about the importance of long-term relationships with countries in terms of trade, culture and educational exchanges and opportunities and so on are so important. We have a long-standing and really fruitful relationship with Japan that we want to see continue well into the future. Japan is a strategic market for us here in Wales and our office in Tokyo aims to generate economic benefit for Wales, principally through trade and investment, but also through increased tourism, education, cultural and government links. I know that the First Minister has an extremely packed agenda while he is out in Japan promoting Wales and making those business links alongside the trade mission that we have on at the moment. You'll be pleased to know that just yesterday he was meeting with Sony, which is obviously an important company in respect of your own constituency interests as well. So, it's a very packed programme, and I think a fantastic opportunity to sell Wales to Japan but also the wider world.

I would also join in in congratulating Wales on a fantastic win this weekend. The Rugby World Cup, of course, is a fantastic sporting event, but it also has the opportunity to sell Wales to the world. There's not a single ounce of Welsh lamb eaten in the United States at the moment as the market is dominated by New Zealand, and I would imagine it is also the same position in Asia. Ninety-two per cent of our lamb exported is sold to the EU. I would ask the Minister: what is the Welsh Government doing to promote Welsh lamb exports to non-EU countries, such as Japan, in advance, of course, of Brexit?

Well, Welsh Government has provided support for the food and drink industry to undertake a trade mission ahead of the current trade mission to blaze the trail in terms of the work that we're currently doing in Japan. But I think I'm right in saying that the lamb market has just opened up for us now in Japan, and Hybu Cig Cymru are alongside that trade mission at the moment, seeking to promote our excellent produce.