First Minister Carwyn Jones will outline the Welsh Government’s commitment to boosting skills, investing in infrastructure and generating business confidence when he meets Welsh business leaders later on Friday.
He will address a meeting of the CBI Wales Council in Newport to outline the action the Welsh Government is taking to help the economy.
The First Minister said: “No one is denying the economy faces major challenges and that is why the Welsh Government’s focus for 2012 is jobs and growth.
“The actions we are taking include speeding up major infrastructure projects and improving training for our workforce. In the last few months alone, we have announced nearly £290 million of support for the Welsh economy. We have also recently set out plans to develop seven enterprise zones across Wales serving different industries.
“I am proud of the Welsh Government’s close working relationship with businesses in Wales and it is great to be able to once again talk directly to the CBI to discuss our mutual concerns and interests. Our open and close relationship works to all our benefit. This is vital in steering us through these difficult economic times.
“Close working is a ‘nice-to-have’ in the good times but is a ‘must-have’ in the tough times.”
The Welsh Government said recent examples of support included:
- £55 million package to support business growth in Wales.
- £38.9 million economic stimulus package to be spent on range of measures – including the Young Recruits and Skills Growth Wales, capital investment for schools and social housing and more investment in the Arbed programme.
- £90 million of centrally retained capital funding to be spent on infrastructure.
- £75 million Job Growth Wales scheme that will create 4,000 jobs a year for three years for young jobseekers across Wales.
- £30 million Skills Growth Wales to support the creation of 3,000 jobs over the next three years.
- The Welsh Government is extending the small business rates relief scheme by a further six months to March 2013.