Green growth makes Wales a unique place to do business says Minister
24 Jun 2014 02:50 PM
Minister for Natural Resources, Alun Davies was in
London yesterday speaking to businesses about how the Welsh Government’s
focus on green growth makes Wales a unique place to invest and grow new
business.
In
a new prospectus, the Minister set out what Wales can offer the business
community in terms of green growth.
This includes:
- Wales’ wealth of natural
resources
- Its
flexible and committed Government
- Its
practical and customised programme of business support.
The
prospectus, Green Growth Wales: Investing in the Future sets out that Wales
boasts 1,200km of coast line, around 32,000 km2 of sea, seven major ports and
significant potential for low carbon energy generation from marine energy,
hydro, solar, onshore and off shore wind.
Its
devolved status also enables the Welsh Government to act fast, with minimum
bureaucracy and maximum flexibility, and has allowed it to develop a
comprehensive programme of business support including greater access to
Government business finance than any other part of the UK.
Alun Davies said:
“Wales is already a great place to do business but
I want it to be a world leader in green growth. I believe that by using our
natural resources sustainably we can create a new economic model that will
deliver wealth creation and economic growth, both now and in the
future.
“The Welsh Government is committed to creating an
environment where businesses can invest with confidence, and to developing the
conditions that will nurture and drive green growth.
“Urgent and growing economic challenges such as
resource constraints and climate change all point to the fact that business as
usual is not an option.
“Green growth will create an environment that
delivers opportunities, jobs and international competitiveness and I am
determined that Wales is right at the centre of this, working closely with
business to deliver the best long terms outcomes for them and for
Wales.”
The
Minster was speaking at a Mansion House event, hosted by the Lord Mayor of
London on behalf of Natural Resources Wales, the body responsible for the
sustainable management of Wales’ natural
resources.
Peter Matthews, Natural Resources Wales Chair
said:
“Green growth is a priority for us in Natural
Resources Wales, and I believe it is key to Wales’ future prosperity. The
natural environment is already worth more than £8 billion to the Welsh
economy but there is potential for more.
“Natural Resources Wales is a unique organisation in the UK and Europe,
providing businesses and investors with a “one stop shop” where
they can get advice and help to find solutions to potential issues so that the
natural resources of Wales can be sustainably used, maintained and enhanced now
and in the future.
“Our aspiration is for Wales to become a ‘location of choice’
for enterprise and business, where best environmental practice is the norm. We
want to help developers manage project risks and ensure that we have the right
developments in the right place.”
The
green economy is an established and growng sector within Wales,
contributing £5.5 billion to the wider Welsh economy in 2011/12. With the
global market for the green economy valued at £3.4 trillion, the Welsh
Government is determined to capitalise on the significant opportunities and
build on its current success.
The
Minister for Natural Resources invited businesses to engage with the Welsh
Government to discuss future investment opportunities and the ways in which the
Welsh Government could provide support.
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