To put all of this activity into perspective, we currently generate 726 MW from offshore wind in Wales. We also have a credible pipeline to generate over 2.8 GW of offshore wind from a mixture of technologies by 2030. If we extend the timeline to 2035, then the project pipeline potentially increases to 6.8 GW. This does not include the 5 GW of offshore wind developments that the Irish Government is seeking to deploy by 2030, and this is likely to rise to 30 GW over the longer term.

This is an export opportunity that ports in north and south-west Wales are ideally placed to support and service. Our work to date suggests that up to 1,400 full-time equivalent jobs could be sustained by 500 MW of floating offshore wind projects. The number is lower, however, for the bottom-fixed sector, where the technology and the supply chains are more mature.

These are exciting developments for Wales. However, I'm concerned that they're nowhere near enough to unlock the large-scale investment required to build and grow our port and grid infrastructure. The UK Government and the Crown Estate need to provide long-term market visibility to beyond 2050 to help unlock investor confidence. I recognise that achieving this ambition means that the public and private sector will need to work closer together.

First and foremost, we need to unlock the potential within our ports. The UK Government's proposed £160 million floating offshore wind ports investment fund is a starting point. Our cross-Government initiative, the marine energy programme, is working closely with our four major port operators and project developers to fully understand what is required and, importantly, where the Welsh Government could make a difference.

We know that to unlock additional high-value employment opportunities, we need to ensure that Welsh ports' infrastructure is fit for purpose and offers an end-to-end solution for developers. Last week's agreement between the Welsh Government and the UK Government on free ports in Wales could make a valuable contribution to our broader vision for the economy. I expect that there will be a range of ambitious and innovative bids from across the whole of Wales when we publish our prospectus. I want to encourage strategic collaborations between ports that maximise the opportunities available for our economy.

The importance of proactive investment in our grid infrastructure is the other big-ticket item that lies outside of our direct responsibility. That is why we're leading the future grid in Wales project to work out the strategic grid investment necessary to meet Wales's needs. Welsh Government officials are also working with the UK Government, National Grid and Ofgem to try to ensure that Wales's grid infrastructure receives the proactive investment that is needed. Without this, we will not be able to maximise the economic benefits from the sector and, at the same time, minimise the environmental impact.

Where we have the necessary levers, we will invest to support our businesses to maximise their potential. This includes focusing on fair work and developing the local supply chain within the foundational economy. Aligned to this, I have recently announced investments of £0.5 million in Wales's trade and associated supply chain bodies, including Marine Energy Wales, the Celtic Sea Cluster and the Offshore Energy Alliance. Supply chain activity also sits at the centre of our manufacturing action plan.

Skills and workforce development is another critical area. We've already announced our intention to publish a net-zero skills action plan later this year. We see the development of the plan as a unique opportunity to achieve a just transition towards net zero. To ensure that we achieve success, we'll also need to build strong social partnerships, and we continue to work with trade unions to ensure that we get the best for our workforce. The emerging marine energy technologies of wave and tidal will also make a difference. They will reinforce Wales's credentials as a centre for excellence and help us to build a stronger, greener economy.

Our European regional development fund marine energy fund has invested £105 million across 13 projects. For example, we recently announced a £31 million investment in Menter Môn's Morlais infrastructure project off the coast of Anglesey. When I say 'we', I of course mean the announcement made by my colleague the climate change Minister.

We will also be looking to our new innovation strategy later this year to reinforce the focus on emerging marine technologies, including hydrogen generation from offshore marine energy. We know that innovation drives improvement and rapidly reduces costs. Bottom-fixed offshore wind is a success story of early investment that is now delivering cost-effective and clean renewable energy at scale. This success should be replicated across other offshore marine technologies.

The Welsh Government has extremely high ambitions for the future of this sector and its economic impacts with and for Wales. We will continue to actively work with, influence and lobby the UK Government to ensure that economic benefits for Wales continue to flow from this exciting and vital sector. I trust on that broad objective we will have cross-party support. I want Wales to reap the economic benefits from offshore marine technology and to generate renewable energy that will help to safeguard our natural environment for many generations to come. This is a key part of creating a stronger, greener and fairer Wales.