Written question WQ90362

I regularly meet with business unions and trade representative organisations on social and economic matters within my portfolio. I also visit businesses across Wales to understand their views and perspectives. The Welsh Government regularly meets with industry leaders and with a range of forums to discuss trade and different thematic areas. We also engage regularly through Business Wales, and I frequently meet with investors to discuss investment and expansion opportunities based on Welsh Government policies and support.

The private sector is a key part of our regional partnerships and integral to policy development in Wales. The Welsh Government engaged a wide and diverse business audience on the development of the Economic Mission: Priorities for a Stronger Economy through our Economic Summits in July and November. This complemented engagement via a questionnaire to gather business insights.

I also routinely meet with my Ministerial Advisory Board which has business, academic and economic industry representation. The Board discusses economic matters, informing and challenging delivery of our economic priorities.

More broadly, the Welsh Government has longstanding social partnership arrangements with trade unions, business representative organisations and other employer representatives. The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 received Royal Assent last year, placing social partnership on a statutory footing in Wales. The Act established the Social Partnership Council (SPC), which brings together representatives of employers and workers from the public, private and third sectors with the purpose of improving economic, environmental, social, and cultural well-being in Wales. The first meeting of the SPC will take place on 1 February. The First Minister recently confirmed the membership of the Council: Written Statement: Membership of the Social Partnership Council (4 December 2023) | GOV.WALES