6. What action is the Welsh Government taking to encourage industrial growth in west Wales? OQ56910

We are working with partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors to support economic development in west Wales and meet our ambitions for a greener, more equal and prosperous Wales. Our manufacturing action plan, launched in February 2021, provides a focus for futureproofing our manufacturing across Wales.

Thank you, Minister. I am aware of the many exciting opportunities around the net-zero journey that exist within my area of Pembrokeshire, and in particular the huge opportunity that the Haven Waterway has to support not only the decarbonisation of industries in south Wales, but also the whole of the south of the UK. The south Wales industrial cluster is a key element of delivering these opportunities, and I understand that the cluster has been working with your office to support its formalisation. Welsh Government has formalised other industrial forums and food clusters, so this is not a new concept. With COP26 only weeks away, now would be a great opportunity for Wales to show how it is working with industries on the collective journey towards net zero. Can I ask you to provide reassurance that the—[Inaudible.]—will receive Government support at the earliest opportunity, giving a huge boost to industrial growth in west Wales?

I'm happy to confirm we are already working in that way alongside industry. You mentioned the south Wales industrial cluster. That's already received over £21 million of industrial decarbonisation cluster funding to deliver a route-map, with a variety of deployable projects across south Wales. I am looking forward to carrying on working together also with the Swansea bay city deal programme and the ambitions it has across the wider region. So, you can expect there to be continued engagement with businesses to take advantage of the real opportunities that do exist within the west of Wales in this particular sector.

Minister, I'd like to welcome the £5 million investment from the Welsh Government's European agricultural fund for rural development for a milk bottling centre in my home town of Haverfordwest. Once completed, that will have the capacity to bottle milk that is produced in Wales and that will be the first facility in Wales to offer this to a British Retail Consortium standard. Minister, do you agree with me that support for businesses such as this does demonstrate Welsh Government's commitment to growing industries in Wales like the agricultural industry, which, of course, is one of the main industries in that region?

Yes, I think it's a really good example of what we're doing with the food business investment scheme, and it's the Pembrokeshire Creamery Limited. This is about trying to add value to primary producers and to do the first or the second stage of processing activities nearer to where they are so that they have more control over the product and greater value added. It should also help us in working with them to exploit new and emerging markets as well.

I should say that the food business investment scheme, I think, has been a great success to date. This particular project is part of over £135 million we've invested in new capital projects being developed across Wales, and it really does highlight our pro-business approach, in particular in the key agricultural sector.