In May 2010 the IWA submitted its response to the Welsh Government’s economic renewal consultation. Following from its first National Economy Conference held on 19 February 2010, and drawing on the extensive expertise of the Institute’s Economy and Finance Study Group, the report identifies current ambivalence about the role of the private sector as a significant barrier to competitiveness.
Key recommendations of the report, Creating a Positive Business Environment for Wales, include establishing a ‘Welsh business embassy’ in London, “to ensure an ongoing Welsh presence close to the heart of UK Government”. A ‘hub and spoke’ model is also proposed, to replace the current structure of the Department for the Economy and Transport; this model would incorporate a slimmed down civil service hub, focusing on policy creation, monitoring and evaluation, with delivery undertaken by a limited number of independent public and private sector organisations.
Click here to download Creating a Positive Business Environment for Wales