Key Week For The Swansea Bay City Region

Following an intensive summer of developing detailed proposals for the delivery of the ‘Internet Coast’ strategy which was launched in February 2016, the Swansea Bay City Region Board will be meeting with MPs in London on Wednesday 14 September. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Board will then consider a full progress report at a meeting in Saundersfoot the following day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The range of projects under discussion will include the development of broadband digital infrastructure in both urban and rural areas; initiatives to build the next generation capacity of the region in the renewable energy, steel and health and wellbeing sectors , plus an innovative plan to develop an ecosystem of technology companies focused on developing new broadband networks and services which includes the rapidly growing mobile communications sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Board Chairman, Sir Terry Matthews, said “I am pleased that a great deal of progress has been made, however much more work and industry and government support will be required to complete our programmes. The importance of securing the City Deal has been underscored by both the continuing uncertainty around the steel industry and following the vote to leave the European Union. We are convinced that the timing is right for our business plans and that the outcome will be substantial economic upside for the region.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Key business partners across the region are now engaged in finalising the Internet Coast proposals and both the UK and Welsh Governments are fully engaged in the details” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I look forward to the events this week. Clearly important milestones on the road to success for the region.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​