Episode 2: Investing in Wales’ Rural Economy

Infrastructure, Renewables and Digital

Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Ben Cottam of the Federation of Small Businesses, Tom Sawyer of the Port of Milford Haven and James Price of Transport for Wales to discuss how new technologies, green energy and infrastructure investment can boost growth and enable Wales to remain competitive.

Brand Wales, Business Confidence; and the Potential for AI

Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Dr. Sarah Louisa Birchley of GlobalWelsh; Paul Brooks, Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade; and Kevin Gardiner of Cardiff Capital Region's Regional Growth Board to discuss the economic climate and business confidence in Wales. They consider how flagship activities such as Wales and Japan 2025 and Wales Week London impact the Welsh economy, and ask how Wales could benefit from AI innovations.

Wales’ Economic Outlook in 2025

What's likely to shape the economic and infrastructure landscape in Wales in 2025? Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Robert Lloyd-Griffiths, Director for Wales at ICAEW; Professor Melanie Jones of Cardiff Business School; and Ben Cottam, Head of Wales at the FSB, to discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing Wales and to consider how economic and geopolitical conditions may develop.

What Next for the Welsh Economy?

Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Ben Cottam, Head of Wales at the Federation of Small Businesses; Dr Edward Jones, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Bangor University; and John Cullen, Partner, Menzies LLP and Member of R3, the UK’s trade body for insolvency and restructuring professionals, to discuss the UK Government Budget and look ahead to the Welsh Government's Draft Budget. What could the measures contained in each mean for the Welsh economy over the months ahead?

Episode 2: Investing in Wales’ Rural Economy

Host Carwyn Jones is joined by Llŷr Roberts, Chief Executive of Mentera; Martin Williams, Partnerships Director for Wales at Openreach; Sara Jones, Head of Public Affairs at Delineate; and Jonathon Holder, owner of Welsh Vernacular Furniture, for a discussion on the strengths and challenges of the rural economy, including the importance of broadband connectivity, business diversification, recruitment and the ‘brain drain’, and the need for a clear, long-term plan for rural development and investment.