A sustainable economy recovery is “key” to tackling social and economic inequality according to a report I will launch virtually later today.
The report recommends Welsh and UK Governments commit to a sustainable recovery. In the UK’s most recent stimulus package specific green spending represents a significantly smaller proportion of overall spend than made by Germany and the EU.
The paper by independent researcher Dr Mark Lang reviews how other communities globally have rebuilt their economies faced with de-industrialisation, the report provides new ideas on how the Welsh economy can recover following the Coronavirus pandemic.
I have seen for myself in communities like Llanelli there is a need for a Welsh Government with new ideas, the Labour party has run out of steam after 20 years in charge of our nation.
The major report identifies:
the role of tourism in responding to post industrialisation in Bilbao, the Basque country and Iceland
the importance of developing renewable energy to boost the economy in Iceland and in the Ruhr area of Germany
the use of strong educational networks, flexible vocational education; increasing training levels when crisis hits
the growth of local food hubs in the United States of America
the value of cooperative models in adult community care provision and housing
Best start
The Welsh economy was built on our natural resources during the industrial revolution, but we have had a period of decline once our dependency on coal came to an end. Wales continues to be rich in natural resources like water, wind and forests that provide solutions to the challenges the Welsh economy now faces.
As we develop these natural resources we must ensure we hold on to the millions of pounds we send out of Wales, and plough the money back into local jobs and opportunities for the next generation.
Our children deserve to get the best start in life. If the forthcoming Senedd election is about anything it is about our young people, and for them to have the hope they deserve and the jobs they need to thrive in their communities.
As Plaid Cymru prepares a programme of government ahead of Senedd elections this is a valuable contribution to the debate we need to have about the Welsh economy and the way we rebuild our economy and society after the pandemic.
It is this kind of thinking that has inspired our commitment to Prosperity Wales, a new Economy Development Agency for Wales that will be tasked not only with creating wealth, but with ensuring that wealth is fairly distributed and that all developments in our economy contributes to the decarbonisation agenda.
Priority
After 20 years of managed decline by the Labour party in Wales and with a hard right destructive Tory party in Westminster, a vote for Wales will set the nation on an ambitious new path.
While our laws maybe under threat from the Westminster government, in our well-being legislation, for all its unresolved contradictions, Wales has the seeds for a sustainable recovery, that will start to root out the high levels of social and economy inequality and poverty.
We need a Welsh Government that prioritises our businesses, big and small. And for the workers that make those businesses work.
What we have today is not as good as it gets. Wales can do better, and Wales can get better.
Together, we can build a better future and create a prosperous Wales for all.