More than ten thousand jobs are planned for Wales
after £1.4 billion of extra investment was
announced by the First Minister today ahead of the Wales
Investment Summit.
New investments for Wales announced since the Summit
was launched total £16
billion. They include international names, such
as:
-
Vodafone - £600m investment to bring 5GSA
coverage to 99% benefiting an extra 2 million
people
-
GE - £19m to modernise its global
customer base at Nantgarw site which employs
more than 1,350 highly skilled engineers and technical
specialists
-
Associated British Ports (ABP) - £42m capital
investment in five Welsh ports, including introducing
a new deep-water berth at Middle Quay, Newport
-
RWE - £200m to
build its largest facility for battery energy
storage in Pembroke. This will help
to stabilise the UK energy market by storing
surplus energy and feeding it into the National Grid
-
Eni - Several
hundred-million-pound investment in carbon capture
and storage on the site of the former colliery area
at Point of Ayr, Flintshire creating more than 1000
jobs.
-
Bad Wolf - £2m for the production
of two new high end TV productions that will invest
£30m in the Welsh economy.
Vantage Data Centers plans to invest £10 billion across south
Wales, including at sites such as the former Ford Bridgend Engine
Plant, transforming the plant into a world-class data-centre
campus to meet the demands of the AI revolution. This investment
is set to create over 5,000 jobs in data centre construction and
operations.
More than 300 business leaders and global
investors from 27 countries are meeting in Newport today to
explore exciting investment opportunities in Wales.
They are joined by the Prince of Wales,
who will meet a number of Welsh businesses
during a tour of the Summit's showcase. His Royal Highness will
also hear from representatives from the Welsh green technology
sector before joining the main conference, during which he will
deliver a speech.
First Minister said: “These major funding
announcements, totalling billions of pounds, are a huge
vote of confidence in Wales.
“Today is about celebrating Wales and encouraging even more
companies to invest here and create jobs here. It is a platform
to showcase all we have on offer – green credentials, talent and
innovation in spades.
“We have been busy creating the right conditions for foreign
investment to flourish. And it's already paying off with
world-class companies like Vantage choosing to invest here
in Wales.
“The next step is building on these major investments to ensure
the jobs and economic benefits reach each and every part of
Wales.”
Notes to editors
£4.6bn of inward investment was announced last week –
this includes £2.5 billon from Wylfa and significant investment
totalling £2.1 billion from companies including Rolls Royce,
Vishay, Stena Line, Boccard, and Bute
Energy.
Company quotes:
GE Aerospace
Stephen Edwards, Managing Director & Executive Plant Leader
at GE Aerospace Wales, said “This investment reflects GE
Aerospace's commitment to operational excellence and
sustainability. By modernising our infrastructure, we are not
only enhancing our capabilities but also creating opportunities
to support the next generation of engines and renewable energy
projects. This investment secures the future of global operations
right here in Wales, the gateway to the European aerospace
market.”
RWE
Nikolaus Valerius, CEO RWE Generation SE, said: “In a dynamic
energy world with more and more renewable energies, there is an
increasing need for mature technologies that can instantly
support the electricity grid. Battery storage systems are ideal
for this because they are fast, efficient and competitive. Our
Pembroke Battery is our UK flagship storage project and will make
an important contribution to stabilising the UK energy market by
efficiently storing surplus energy and feeding it into the
national grid in a targeted manner.”
The following businesses will be attending the Summit and
available for interview on the day – please contact economypressteam@gov.wales
- GE - Steve Edwards, Managing Director
- RWE - Tom Glover, UK Country Chair
- ENI - Senior Advisor Phil Hemmens
