Framework For Action For Regional Economy

“Achieving better economic outcomes for mid Wales” – that was the theme of a reception that brought together businesses and organisations from Powys and Ceredigion at the Winter Fair. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Growing Mid Wales – a regional partnership comprising of representative bodies from across the private, public and voluntary sector in mid Wales – met in the first of a series of events to mark the introduction of its ‘Framework for Action’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The framework sets out the economic aspirations for mid Wales and highlights key opportunities to transform the region’s economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The partnership, includes significant membership drawn from the private sector including partners representing manufacturing, agricultural and tourism businesses, together with higher and further education, the voluntary sector, Welsh Government and local government representatives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Barry Thomas, Chair of the Growing Mid Wales partnership and Leader of Powys County Council, said: “The production of this document is a key milestone in our work to achieve better economic outcomes for the mid Wales region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Together we want to provide a strong voice for rural Wales. We may have a relatively small population but that does not mean the area does not present numerous opportunities, and does not deserve the same amount of attention or intervention as other areas of Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn, Vice Chair of the Partnership and Leader of Ceredigion County Council, said: “I outlined to the former Economy Minister how rural areas in mid Wales were being ignored in favour of big projects in north and south Wales. The largest area of Wales geographically was being ignored. This is exactly why Cllr Barry Thomas and I sought the former Minister’s approval to set up a partnership for mid Wales, concentrating on rural economic development in this region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By working together across the Powys and Ceredigion area we can take a collaborative approach to key challenges and opportunities. The agriculture and forestry businesses make up a third of our active businesses in the region, so it’s fitting the framework is marked at the RWAS Winter Fair. I am excited to see how this collaboration will contribute to develop the economy of this region.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Growing Mid Wales was supported at this event by the Mid Wales Regional Engagement Team, who are part financed by European Structural Funds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​