A chairperson has been selected to lead an expert panel shaping the new development agency to boost Wales’ economy and create better jobs.
- Jonathan Lewis named chair of expert panel designing new economic development agency
- Agency will help deliver most ambitious economic goal in Wales in two decades, halving the productivity gap with the UK within 10 years.
- Agency will be built around innovation, target inward investment and help Welsh businesses grow and scale.
Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Adam Price, told the Senedd of the appointment today as he outlined the first steps towards creating the agency which will be a key driver in reducing Wales’ productivity gap with the UK within 10 years.
Jonathan Lewis will steer the independent advisory panel established to shape the design and remit of the new economic development agency for Wales.
Mr Lewis has extensive business and leadership experience across major infrastructure and services sectors globally, particularly energy, engineering and construction and technology. He currently chairs the UK’s largest ports operator Associated British Ports (ABP) and is a non-executive director at Adura Energy. He previously held the CEO roles at Capita plc and AmecFosterWheeler plc.
Much of Mr Lewis’s career was spent in the energy sector in the United States and in other international markets where he engaged with various national development agencies around the world.
The new agency will focus on attracting inward investment, supporting Welsh businesses to scale up, and put innovation at the heart of Wales' economic development.
It will also draw on international best practice and connect with businesses, organisations, and institutions across Wales.
To read the press release in full, please select the following link: Expert Panel Chair named in first steps towards new economic development agency for Wales | GOV.WALES