National Assembly Member Mohammad Asghar has urged the Welsh Assembly Government to give more detail regarding its new Economic Renewal Programme, particularly in relation to support on offer for small and medium-sized enterprises.
He joined Welsh Conservative colleagues in calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to set a clear direction for business support services for smaller businesses and to eliminate confusion and disengagement within the SME sector.
Speaking in the Senedd on Wednesday, Mr Asghar said: “Our SMEs are the lifeblood of the Welsh economy
“The Deputy First Minister must eliminate confusion altogether and publish a clear set of intentions in relation to the business support services that will be on offer to small businesses across the country.
“The Deputy First Minister said that his sectoral approach does not mean that the Welsh Assembly Government will be rigid to the point of being extreme. He needs to give more details on exactly what will be done to reduce uncertainty over the support that will exist, now that the Single Investment Fund has been shelved”.
He asked the Deputy First Minister to clarify how he was “reassuring SMEs that this new approach does not solely favour large businesses” and how he was “communicating this to SMEs in Wales”.
Speaking on the issue of exports, Mr Asghar added: “Wales needs to trade outside its borders to unleash its full potential and support in this area should be a priority for the Deputy First Minister. We know that the International Business Wales brand will be integrated into the six new key sector teams. The Deputy First Minister needs to give more information on how this will work. He also needs to outline what international support will be available for businesses outside these sectors, and under what circumstances”.
