Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
Following the innovative approach I have taken to establish the Powys local growth zones, I am now setting up a short-term Task & Finish Group to explore how this model may be applied to the Teifi Valley. It will consider policy options to encourage and support jobs, economic growth and offer the opportunity of testing different types of interventions which are sensitive to the Valley’s local economic circumstances, growth challenges and prominent use of the Welsh language. The Group will consider the approach taken in Powys as starting point but will focus on the specific issues affecting the Teifi Valley, which transects parts of Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
I have asked to receive an interim report from the Group before the end of July 2013. I anticipate that there will be important findings from this Group which will have relevance to other parts of Wales. Therefore, I will ensure that lessons learned from this work are widely disseminated and inform our future work.
The Group’s membership will include expertise to reflect the specific areas of private sector business; rural economic development and regeneration and small businesses in key sectors such as manufacturing, tourism and retail. I am delighted that Delyth Humfryes MBE, Chair of the West Wales Credit Union, has agreed to Chair the group. She will be joined by Kevin Davies, Cawdor Cars, Laurence Harris, Daioni-Trioni; Carwyn Adams, Caws Cenarth; Jayne Ludgate, Arcade; Dafydd Lewis, WD Lewis & Son and Cris Tomos, Cardigan Castle.