Economy Secretary Celebrates Wales’ Links With Japan Ahead Of Saturday’s Rugby International

Ahead of Saturday’s rugby international, Economy Secretary, Ken Skates has been in Pencoed visiting, Sony one of Wales’ longest standing Japanese investors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Economy Secretary toured the factory and chatted to staff and management team at Sony in Pencoed about the company’s importance to the Welsh economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sony has had a presence in South Wales since 1973 and has benefitted from a variety of Welsh Government support. It currently employs around 400 people in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Economy Secretary’s visit to Pencoed follows his recent trip to Japan where he visited the Sony Headquarters in Tokyo. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ken Skates said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Saturday’s fixture provides an ideal opportunity for us to celebrate the great links that Wales has with Japan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Welsh exports to Japan stood at over £290m last year and are increasing year on year and Japan also has a long standing commitment to Wales with links dating back to the 1970s. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Sony was one of the first Japanese companies to come to Wales, and has been a major contributor to the local and wider Welsh economy since 1973 so I was delighted to tour the Pencoed site, speak to the management team about their future business plans and reiterate the Welsh Government’s continued support for the company. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Last month I had the pleasure of visiting Japan, along with a trade mission from Wales. It was an extremely positive visit and early indications are that the companies who attended are optimistic it will result in increased business for them. I look forward to increased trade links with Japan and a continuation of our great relationship on and off the pitch.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of its work to further build links with Japan, the Welsh Government is also hosting a visit from the Ambassador Elect to Japan, Mr Paul Madden. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Paul Madden will visit Japanese company Formatt Hitech, an optical filter company in Aberdare that has been manufacturing filters for the photography, cinema and TV for over a quarter of a century. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The company has benefitted from a variety of Welsh Government support that has allowed it to expand and increase its exports and now has 40 employees in Wales and annual sales of £2.5m. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​