Wales’ links with the US were further strengthened when First Minister Rhodri Morgan met with the new US Ambassador to the UK, Louis B. Susman on Wednesday 25 November.
Their meeting was followed by the official launch of the new ‘Washington 80’ Business Club in the Wales Millennium Centre, following the visit by Wales’ biggest ever trade delegation to the US earlier this year.
Wales already has a strong relationship with the US. There are approximately 180 US owned companies in Wales employing around 30,000 people. There are also strong academic links through Cardiff and Swansea Universities, both have exchange programmes and research collaborations with the US.
The successful trade mission to Washington in June took place as part of the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival, in which Wales was the featured nation. Following the mission the Washington 80 Club was established, and officially launched today, to help Welsh companies accomplish the full potential of what they set out to do back in the summer.
The First Minister said: "Wales has a strong historical link with the US, many Welsh immigrants joined the millions arriving at Ellis Island, owned by Samuel Ellis, the "little Welshman", and since then people from Wales continue to arrive in the US and make an impressive contribution to life and business there.
"In fact, just this summer 80 companies from Wales took part in a trade mission to Washington and made a real impression there. So much so in fact, that deals in excess of £1million were made on the trip and there are still further business that companies are pursuing.
"This mission was part of our presence as a feature nation at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival on the National Mall in Washington, which was a huge privilege and a wonderful experience. This successfully raised the profile of Wales with a largely U.S. audience of 1,057,000 – the highest audience since 2003.
"However, the job remains only partly done. In establishing the 'Washington 80' Club, we are ensuring that Welsh businesses will have the ongoing support and expertise to turn prospects into business, and potential into profit. There remains a real desire by the companies and the International Business Wales Team to stay in touch and keep working together. It is also exciting news to hear that so many Welsh companies are now looking to collaborate with one another – reinforcing their own business base and making Wales’ commercial and technical offering even stronger.
"Looking ahead we have the Ryder Cup in Newport next year, which will place Wales on the world’s sporting stage. Of the tickets already balloted for the event, 13 per cent have gone to golf fans in the US, making this another opportunity to build links and demonstrate to visiting golfing fans what Wales has to offer.
"I am pleased that Ambassador Susman has taken the time to visit Wales for himself and see that although we may be a small nation, we have a lot to offer from our deep-rooted traditions to our innovative new ideas. I hope that we can continue to work closely with the US in the future."