The Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
This statement provides details of the programme of the Welsh Government’s proactive and extensive trade mission and exhibition programme for 2013-14.
The programme comprises 44 multi-sector and sector focussed overseas visits to 20 markets and demonstrates our commitment to supporting the internationalisation of the Welsh economy. These are the visible elements of our support for companies in international markets but they are underpinned by financial support to individual companies to enable them to explore, research and visit both new and existing markets.
The full list is attached and, as you will see, three of these events have already taken place. Our largest trading partner, the USA, is the market that we will visit the most, closely followed by Germany, UAE and China.
We will have a presence at some of the most prestigious trade fairs in the USA, Europe, Middle East and Asia including Advamed which will be in Washington DC this year, Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Big 5 Construction in Dubai and the Singapore Airshow.
This builds on the programme that we reintroduced last year and is part of a suite of support to help companies develop new export business.
While the programme is aimed primarily at helping businesses to trade internationally, it also provides us with a vehicle to build on the foreign direct investment news that was released yesterday to further raise the profile of Wales as a destination for inward investment.
The trade missions and exhibition programme is one part of our overseas activity plan for 2013-14. We will also be promoting Wales as a destination for inward investment, tourism and major events at sector focussed exhibitions and conferences such as the European Film Market in Berlin, US Tour Operators Association Convention in Arizona and Sport Accord in St Petersburg.
Please see link to the programme of missions and exhibitions: https://business.wales.gov.uk/welsh-government-trade-missions-1