Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. With 55 days to go until Wales plays its first game in the men's FIFA World Cup tournament, against the USA on 21 November, the excitement and anticipation of seeing our senior men’s national team compete in our first world cup for 64 years can be felt throughout the nation. With our hope and ambitions on the players’ shoulders, we're afforded one of the most compelling opportunities to promote Wales globally, and to introduce Wales to new audiences.

Firstly, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Robert Page, the players, the coaching staff and everybody at the Football Association of Wales for their fantastic achievement to date. Come what may in November, the team should know that they have already made Wales proud just by being there as one of only 32 countries to take a seat at the top table of the game.

The Welsh Government is working closely with the Football Association of Wales and other key partners to maximise this unique opportunity. I'm happy to update Members today on our approach. With a global audience of 5 billion people, the world cup offers a platform to take Wales to the world and to build on our previous activity to reconnect with existing audiences, including our global Welsh diaspora. It is the most significant marketing and sports diplomacy opportunity ever presented to Wales, given the profile of the event.

As Minister for Economy, I have lead ministerial responsibility for co-ordinating the delivery of an ambitious programme of activities that will look to maximise these opportunities and realise benefits that will be delivered through our four key objectives. These are: the promotion of Wales; projecting our values; ensuring the safety of Welsh citizens at the tournament; and securing a positive and lasting legacy from our participation at the men's world cup.

In relation to the promotion of Wales, I'm pleased to announce that much progress has already been made. A programme of activity has been mobilised that seeks to maximise these opportunities. We are implementing an enhanced marketing campaign that will focus on core target international markets across brand, business and tourism as well as a strong in-Wales presence. The campaign’s target markets include the USA, key European markets, the UK and Qatar.

The marketing campaign also looks to deliver activities through work with our greatest advocates—the fans and the voices from Wales—as well as with our partners, diaspora and world cup ambassadors, Lleisiau Cymru, who will act as strong and influential voices for Wales right across our activity. A budget of £2.5 million is in place to deliver on that enhanced marketing programme. Food and drink promotion will be taking place in Qatar, including a dinner in advance of the tournament to promote Welsh produce.

We've already established a partner support fund with the aim of adding value to a small number of exceptional projects that can deliver on our core objectives. This fund will utilise the expertise of a range of organisations to support and enhance our programme of activities and to develop content. I've announced today the 19 successful projects with a combined investment of £1.8 million that will support our objective of promoting Wales and of sharing our culture, arts, and heritage to become an integral part of this global celebration. Activities will take place here in Wales, in Qatar and in some of our key markets, as I've mentioned, such as the USA. As a package, these projects will project our collective strength as a nation with the wider partnership of organisations, the true embodiment of team Wales and the mantra that we are, indeed, stronger together.