CBI Wales responds to Programme for Government

Ian Price, CBI Wales Director, said:

“The publication of the Programme for Government is extremely welcome, with business backing the Welsh Government’s vision for an inclusive, wellbeing economy that delivers for firms and individuals.

“But it’s a vision that can’t be realised by government alone. The same level of cooperation between government and the private sector seen during the pandemic is essential to charting a viable path towards prosperity and turning economic ambition into action.

“The best way to pay for ambitious public services is to have a Welsh economy that’s firing on all cylinders. That means continuing to support firms as they look to bounce back from the worst of the pandemic and promoting economic recovery through the summer months.

“Building back better from the crisis must also be more than a slogan. Business and government must work together to build a more dynamic, competitive and resilient Welsh economy – one that looks to new opportunities for growth, takes advantage of global markets and delivers the upskilling and retraining needed to prepare Welsh workers up for the future. 

“Policy levers like reforming and simplifying the planning process could not only accelerate housebuilding, renewables projects and infrastructure development, but could help to unleash Wales’s full economic potential.”