The Welsh Government has responded to a National Assembly for Wales Committee report which recommended that the Welsh Government establish a Mid Wales Growth Deal to transform the economic fortunes of the region.
The National Assembly for Wales' Economy, Infrastructure & Skills Committee, which is chaired by Montgomeryshire AM, Russell George, recently published its recommendations following an inquiry into City Deals and the Regional Economies of Wales.
The Welsh Government has now "accepted in principle" the Committee recommendation which called on the Welsh Government to engage with a wide cross section of communities between the Valleys and the A55 corridor, and along Wales’ west coast, to decide what practical measure should be included in a Mid Wales Growth Deal.
In its response, the Welsh Government welcomed the UK Government’s commitment to explore a growth deal for Mid Wales and has said that it would welcome details from the Growing Mid Wales Partnership on how a Deal could grow the economy of Mid Wales.
Commenting on the Welsh Government's response, Montgomeryshire AM and Chair of the National Assembly's Economy & Infrastructure Committee, Russell George, said:
"Following the Chancellor's support for a Growth Deal in November's Budget, I am pleased that the Welsh Government has followed suit by cautiously welcoming the recommendation that a Mid Wales Growth Deal is established to stimulate economic growth in Mid Wales.
"However, I am disappointed that the Welsh Government felt that it could only accept the recommendation "in principle" and it will be important to understand the reasoning behind their reservations.
"It will also be essential for the region, through the Growing Mid Wales Partnership to make a strong case for a Growth Deal to both the UK and Welsh Governments to persuade them of the benefits a regional deal could have for Mid Wales.
"New regional deals in Cardiff, Swansea and North Wales will deliver billions of pounds worth of investment and will see better transport links, better broadband connectivity and other programmes to boost innovation, create employment and raise living standards.
"I firmly believe that Mid Wales deserves the same kind of investment to transform our economic fortunes and integrate Mid Wales into the wider Midlands economic engine."