A new partnership has been launched to promote economic development in Mid Wales, including Montgomeryshire, in an attempt to counter increasing attention to Cardiff, Swansea and North Wales.
A new partnership to provide a voice supporting economic development in Mid Wales has been launched by the region’s county councils.
Growing Mid Wales, a partnership of county councils and other groups including Powys County Council, is set to counter the increasing attention given to investment in jobs and growth in Cardiff and Swansea city regions, and the emergence of the North Wales Ambition Board focusing on the economic prosperity in the region.
It will also ensure that the needs and the priorities of Mid Wales are not overlooked because of the attention given to the M4 and the A55 corridors.
The ‘Growing Mid Wales’ initiative was launched by Ceredigion and Powys councils with an inaugural meeting where Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn, Leader of Ceredigion was elected chair and Cllr Barry Thomas, Leader of Powys was elected Vice Chair.
The private sector business is represented on the partnership through the Mid Wales Economic Forum, the Local Growth Zones (LGZ) and representatives from tourism and other business sectors.
James Harrison, Chair of the Mid Wales Economic Forum, welcomed Growing Mid Wales as a voice and a partnership platform for regional engagement.
“Welsh Government is quite rightly giving considerable attention to investment in the city regions, but it must not forget business needs, job opportunities and growth are required throughout Wales - Growing Mid Wales is exactly what needs to be done, he said.”
At the first meeting members applauded the need to establish a strong framework and structure for regional engagement. They received presentations on transport planning and priorities for employment skills and training, both hugely important considerations in providing accessibility and jobs within the region.
The meeting was also told the region benefited from the presence of two universities, which were hugely important hubs for the economy and offered opportunities to develop skills, research and development.
