Just a few weeks after the Welsh Government defended its approach to inward investment, despite a critical report on the issue, the Business Minister today cast doubt over her own work on selling Wales and attracting investors.
Speaking in the Enterprise and Business committee on Wednesday morning, Edwina Hart said ‘I don’t think I’ve got the brand of Wales right’.
The admission comes on the same day the Welsh Government claimed new GDP figures are ‘misleading’. The stats show the economy in poorer parts of Wales has fallen further behind the European average.
Speaking in committee however, the Business Minister suggested there had been too much spending on ‘pet projects’ in the past.
Shadow Minister for Business Nick Ramsay AM said:
“These damning admissions sum up the Welsh Labour Government’s approach to inward investment and the economy as a whole.
“Despite all the defensive rhetoric, the minister in charge has finally given us the truth we all knew already. Simply, Wales is not being properly sold and European funds have been mismanaged in the past.
“Over the last six years Wales has been the only UK nation or region to see a fall in its share of foreign investment. Now we finally have confirmation that it’s the fault of successive Labour-led governments.
“They now need a new and robust strategy to get us back on track across the world. The Welsh Government should get out of its silo and start working constructively with the Conservative-led Coalition to deliver the improvements desperately needed.”
