Businesses in Pembrokeshire

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Economy – in the Senedd at 2:14 pm on 15 June 2022.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 2:14, 15 June 2022

Well, actually, the development of the hotel was something that was discussed in a meeting earlier today with officials, when looking at diversifying the economy, not just in west Wales, but some of the challenges around port investment as well, because there are also opportunities around port investment. So, we're looking at what that means from the UK Government's perspective. There's obviously going to be a prospectus for free ports, but regardless of the outcome of that, there are opportunities for ports in west Wales. We need clarity on opportunities in the Celtic sea. We need a longer term pipeline for development for the Celtic sea as well. We then need to see what will happen in terms of the mix between private and public investment—that must include the UK Government, as well as us—and then some of the levers we have around skills and investment more generally. So, I do look at the whole picture of all of those different areas—what it means in terms of the visitor economy as a key part of the Pembrokeshire economy, the opportunities for new manufacturing, the opportunities around port investment, and beyond. We'll continue to take a view in different parts of the economy and how we can look to invest alongside others to provide the stronger, more prosperous and greener future that we all wish to see.