MP leads inward investment call with European journey

SWANSEA West's MP has travelled to Germany to encourage foreign investment in the city.

Geraint Davies is working with Swansea University to help encourage inward investment.

Mr Davies has also proposed that the UK Government's Welsh Affairs Select Committee, on which he serves, publishes recommendations after taking evidence on inward investment into Wales.

He said: "Our city has all the ingredients for success, but we need to get active and look for opportunities.

"I'm also using the work on inward investment to make contacts and help create jobs. Talking and reports is one thing, the key is action. Swansea has everything to attract inward investors, but it is necessary to go out and look for them and set up the links."

Mr Davies added: "Swansea has a very bright future ahead of it. We have everything here, a good environment and good infrastructure, but we need to set up the links to help create a sustainable and diverse economy in Swansea.

"Rail electrification hasn't reached Swansea yet, but the travel time from London has been reduced by 20 minutes. That means with our fantastic coastline — including access to the Gower peninsular — and a good skills base, Swansea is well placed for inward investment. But this means doing the work — whether it's getting on the phone, on the train or on the plane — to make it happen."

Mr Davies, who is still calling for the line to be electrified to Swansea, also responded to comments made to the Evening Post by the Prime Minister at the Tory party's Spring Forum.

Mr Cameron said Swansea was not ruled out of having an electrified line in the future, adding: "But you don't actually, as things stand, get any extra benefits from electrification between Cardiff and Swansea. It doesn't lead to any meaningful increase in train speeds, so it wouldn't be a good use of the money. So better would be to look at electrification of the valley lines between Cardiff and other parts of the valleys and I think that makes better sense."

In response, Mr Davies questioned Mr Cameron's reasoning.

He added: "I'm not against the valleys having electrified rail, but why does it make more sense to look at them when those trains stop at every village on the way, which is one of the issues on the way to Swansea.

"If it's good enough for the valleys, then it should be good enough for Swansea."

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503366/s/1335d6be/l/0L0Sthisissouthwales0O0Cnews0CMP0Eleads0Einward0Einvestment0EEuropean0Ejourney0Carticle0E330A3420A0Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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