Promoting Wales for inward investment

Welsh Affairs Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 18 Nov 2024 Parliament page
Inward investment, a term often used interchangeably with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), refers to cross-border investment from one country to another and which aims to establish a lasting interest and effective voice in an enterprise. In FDI statistics, an effective voice means owning 10% or more of the equity share … Read more
2 Recommendations
13 Conclusions
2 Reports
6 Oral sessions
12 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 26 events
27 May
2026
Report published
27 May
2026
Report published
21 May
2026
Correspondence
11 Mar
2026
Correspondence
11 Feb
2026
Correspondence
2 Feb
2026
Oral evidence
2 Feb
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
28 Jan
2026
Correspondence
10 Dec
2025
Oral evidence
10 Dec
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
13 Nov
2025
Correspondence
13 Nov
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
2 Feb 2026
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The Lord Stockwood · Department for Business and Trade at UK Government Tim Newns · Department for Business and Trade at UK Government
10 Dec 2025
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Oral evidence
Andrew Gwatkin · Welsh Government Liz Lalley · Welsh Government Rebecca Evans MS · Welsh Government
3 Sep 2025
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Oral evidence
Andrew Carter · Centre for Cities Dr Rhian Hayward MBE · AberInnovation Howard Rupprecht · CSconnected Ltd Russell Greenslade · CBI
14 May 2025
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Oral Evidence
Joe Manning · MIDAS Mark Hallan · Scottish Development International
26 Mar 2025
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Oral evidence
James Gardiner · Ernst & Young Ken Poole MBE · Cardiff Council and Invest in Cardiff Nan Williams · Four Communications Professor Riccardo Crescenzi · London School of Economics and Political Science
19 Mar 2025
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Oral evidence
James Gardiner · Ernst & Young Ken Poole MBE · Cardiff Council and Invest in Cardiff Nan Williams · Four Communications Professor Riccardo Crescenzi · London School of Economics and Political Science
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Promoting Wales for Inward Investment HC 136 27 May 2026 15 Pending
1st Report - Crynodeb - Hyrwyddo Cymru fel cyrchfan ar gyfer Mew… HC 136 27 May 2026 0 Pending
Recommendations & Conclusions
15 results
1 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
We welcome recent inward investment results that suggest Wales is returning to a more competitive...
We welcome recent inward investment results that suggest Wales is returning to a more competitive position in comparison to the other UK nations. However, these headline figures cannot be cause for complacency. Lower value-added investment and a reliance on investment … Read more
Wales Office
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2 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
Data must be accurate, accessible and comparable to enable governments, policymakers and investment stakeholders to...
Data must be accurate, accessible and comparable to enable governments, policymakers and investment stakeholders to make the best decisions about promoting Wales for inward investment. Neither the UK nor Welsh governments are currently providing comprehensive analysis of Wales’ inward investment … Read more
Wales Office
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3 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
The Wales Office should work in conjunction with the Department for Business and Trade and...
The Wales Office should work in conjunction with the Department for Business and Trade and the Office for National Statistics to produce an annual Wales-specific report on inward investment results and trends for Wales. This should include the sectoral composition … Read more
Wales Office
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4 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
Wales is a strong and distinctive investment proposition, thanks to a strong pool of talent...
Wales is a strong and distinctive investment proposition, thanks to a strong pool of talent in key sectors, world-leading university research, its geopolitical stability, and capacity to work at pace and in collaboration with the UK and Welsh governments. (Conclusion, … Read more
Wales Office
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5 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
No amount of promotion can overcome fundamental challenges with the business basics, so we therefore...
No amount of promotion can overcome fundamental challenges with the business basics, so we therefore encourage the UK Government and incoming Welsh Government to continue to work together to deliver vital improvements to Wales’ infrastructure. We will continue to monitor … Read more
Wales Office
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6 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
Data about Wales investment enquiries generated by DBT officials overseas and transferred to relevant partners...
Data about Wales investment enquiries generated by DBT officials overseas and transferred to relevant partners is not being monitored or published. This makes it impossible to assess how the UK Government’s overseas network promotes Wales for inward investment. It is … Read more
Wales Office
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7 Recommendation
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
The Department for Business and Trade should publish a summary of the investment enquiries generated...
The Department for Business and Trade should publish a summary of the investment enquiries generated by its overseas network as part of its annual inward investment results. The summary should be broken down to a UK nation level. (Recommendation, Paragraph … Read more
Wales Office
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8 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
It is disappointing that intergovernmental infrastructure does not appear to be being used to support...
It is disappointing that intergovernmental infrastructure does not appear to be being used to support inter-ministerial collaboration on inward investment, as a key growth priority. Consistent engagement at a ministerial level between the UK and Welsh governments would provide clear … Read more
Wales Office
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9 Recommendation
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
The Minister for Investment should engage with existing intergovernmental infrastructure to co-ordinate with Welsh Government...
The Minister for Investment should engage with existing intergovernmental infrastructure to co-ordinate with Welsh Government ministers. Interministerial groups should be used to facilitate discussions about challenges as they develop and to agree solutions. We recommend that the next meetings of … Read more
Wales Office
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10 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
There is strong evidence that an arms-length investment promotion agency for Wales would have a...
There is strong evidence that an arms-length investment promotion agency for Wales would have a positive impact on attracting inward investment into Wales. The Committee recognises that establishing an investment promotion agency for Wales is in the gift of the … Read more
Wales Office
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11 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
We encourage the incoming Welsh Government to seriously consider establishing a dedicated investment promotion agency.
We encourage the incoming Welsh Government to seriously consider establishing a dedicated investment promotion agency. If the Welsh Government establishes an investment promotion agency for Wales, the Department for Business and Trade must set out how it will work with … Read more
Wales Office
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12 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
The Welsh diaspora is an untapped resource that offers new and exciting opportunities to engage...
The Welsh diaspora is an untapped resource that offers new and exciting opportunities to engage with emerging markets and strengthen the diversity of Wales’ inward investment profile in a distinctly Welsh and personal way. The UK Government should celebrate and … Read more
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13 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
The Wales Office should develop and implement an investment-focused Welsh diaspora engagement strategy by summer...
The Wales Office should develop and implement an investment-focused Welsh diaspora engagement strategy by summer 2027. The Wales Office should do this in conjunction with the Department for Business and Trade and in collaboration with the Welsh Government, to avoid … Read more
Wales Office
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14 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
Clusters present an opportunity to showcase and communicate Wales’ strengths to prospective investors, and these...
Clusters present an opportunity to showcase and communicate Wales’ strengths to prospective investors, and these valuable stories should be more consistently harnessed to promote a region’s advantages to investors. (Conclusion, Paragraph 101) 35
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15 Conclusion
1st Report - Promoting Wales for I…
The Wales Office should lead work with the Department for Business and Trade to map...
The Wales Office should lead work with the Department for Business and Trade to map Wales’ clusters and catalogue what they offer for prospective investors in sectors relevant to each cluster, such as R&D facilities and a robust supply chain. … Read more
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Correspondence 12 letters
21 May 2026 Correspondence from Scottish Enterprise relating to 14 May 2025 evidence session on Promoting Wales for Inward investment inquiry
Parliament page
11 Mar 2026 Correspondence to and from Lord Stockwood, relating to the evidence session on 2 February, dated 5 and 24 February
Parliament page
11 Feb 2026 Correspondence from Lord Harrington, relating to the inquiry Promoting Wales for Inward Investment, dated 22 January
Parliament page
28 Jan 2026 Correspondence from Rebecca Evans MS, dated 13 January, relating to the evidence session on 10 December, in English and Welsh.
Parliament page
13 Nov 2025 Correspondence from Howard Rupprecht dated 29 September 2025 relating to the 3 September evidence session on Promoting Wales for Inward Investment
Parliament page
13 Nov 2025 Correspondence from Rhian Hayward dated 29 September relating to the 3 September evidence session on Promoting Wales for Inward Investment
Parliament page
25 Jun 2025 Correspondence from the Chair to Ken Poole MBE dated 08 April 2025 relating to the evidence session on 26 March as part of the inquiry into Promoting Wale
Parliament page
25 Jun 2025 Correspondence from Ken Poole MBE to the Chair dated 16 April 2025 relating to the evidence session on 26 March as part of the inquiry into Promoting Wales
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19 Jun 2025 Correspondence from Nan Williams to the Chair dated 13 June 2025 relating to the evidence session on 26 March as part of the inquiry into Promoting Wales for Inward Investment
Parliament page
19 Jun 2025 Correspondence from the Chair to Nan Williams dated 8 April 2025 relating to the evidence session on 26 March as part of the inquiry into Promoting Wales for Inward Investment
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19 Jun 2025 Correspondence from Professor Riccardo Crescenzi to the Chair dated 13 June 2025 relating to the evidence session on 26 March as part of the inquiry into Promoting Wales for Inward Investment
Parliament page
19 Jun 2025 Correspondence from the Chair to Professor Riccardo Crescenzi dated 8 April 2025 relating to the evidence session on 26 March as part of the inquiry into Promoting Wales for Inward Investment
Parliament page