The £125million investment to build the next generation Astra will also create 700 new jobs and 4,000 jobs in the supply chain – news which will be welcomed by the hundreds of North Wales based employees who work at the plant.
 
Welcoming the announcement, the Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan said:

“This announcement will come as very welcome news for the economy and the hundreds of employees from North Wales who make the journey to the Ellesmere Port plant every day.

“The news is testament to the exemplary skills of the workforce, and an excellent example of how this Government is helping to create the right environment for industry. Moreover, it is another sure sign that the UK’s auto sector continues to go from strength-to-strength and is open for business.”

Mrs Gillan will make the announcement in a speech to the British Business Association in Cambodia (BBAC) and the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC), as part of a five-day tour of South East Asia to promote trade, tourism and governmental links.

She will be joined by the British Ambassador, Mr Mark Gooding OBE, and His Excellency Pan Sorasak, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce.

Announcing UKTI’s return to Cambodia, Mrs Gillan said:

“I am delighted to be here in Cambodia to announce that UKTI will be re-opening its doors within the British Embassy.

“Over the last five years, we have seen trade relations between the UK and Cambodia increase from £100million to £400million, and we want to ensure that this upward trend continues.

“UKTI’s growing network of offices and worldwide reach can help British businesses compete effectively in what is now a global marketplace. I urge those companies eager to explore the wealth of opportunities available to them in Cambodia, to take advantage of the chance to get the support they need to be competitive on the world stage, and secure lucrative new business and contracts overseas.”

The Secretary of State will also meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen and His Excellency Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce. The discussions will cover the broad range of co-operation between the UK and Cambodia, including sustainable development, trade and investment, regional co-operation in South East Asia, and human rights.

The Welsh Secretary will round off her day with a visit to Quantum Clothing (Cambodia) Limited, the largest British company in Cambodia, where she will unveil a plaque to mark the official opening of their third garment factory.

Quantum is renowned for investing in its workforce and for being one of the strongest advocates for corporate social responsibility in the garment industry, and in the British Business Association in Cambodia.

Mrs Gillan will be met by the country director for Quantum, Kevin Plenty whose family reside in Gorseinon, Swansea.

Mrs Gillan said: “Quantum is an excellent example of British quality, bringing high standards of corporate social responsibility wherever they operate. With its 3,000 strong workforce, and impressive growth figures, the UK can be proud of it success. I hope that other British companies will follow in their footsteps and enter the Cambodian market.”

Notes for Editors:

• Mrs Gillan is on a five day trade and diplomatic mission to Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore
• The UKTI office will be fully operational later this year UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. It provides companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information on UKTI, visit www.ukti.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7215 8000. Quantum Clothing (Cambodia) Ltd has been operating in Cambodia for 11 years. They are the largest British company in Cambodia (employing more than 3,000 staff).
• Quantum has grown by around 15% year on year. Quantum is an executive member of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC). Under current expansion plans they will be the 5th largest employer within 2 years. Quantum was recently awarded the Marks & Spencer Plan A (CSR-programme) accreditation, one of only three companies worldwide to receive this. This comes on top of already being ISO 9001:2008 and ISO14001 Approved.
• In 2005 Quantum was honoured to receive the Cambodian corporate citizen award from HE Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister, Ministry of Commerce in 2005, along with James Wolfenshon, the then World Bank President. More information is available at: www.quantumclothing.com
• A copy of the Secretary of State’s Speech will be made available on britemb@online.com.kh

The latest statistics show that both employment and unemployment levels in Wales have decreased slightly.  The unemployment level has fallen over the last quarter, but the rate stayed the same as March.

The Secretary of State, speaking from Thailand, where she is on a five-day trade and investment visit as part of the Government’s ‘GREAT’ campaign, said:

“I am pleased that unemployment levels have once again decreased, although I am also mindful that the economic uncertainties present elsewhere in Europe may also have an impact on the recovery of the economy here in the UK.

“Unemployment in Wales continues to be unacceptably high at 9.0%, but despite this I have been heartened this week to witness the great strides Wales-based businesses are making across the globe.  This week, I have witnessed the signing of a major £6m deal between the Thai Treasury and the Royal Mint, based at Llantrisant in South Wales while General Dynamics has announced that a £5.5bn deal to supply armoured vehicles to the MoD will safeguard and create hundreds of new jobs in Wales.   

“As part of the ‘GREAT’ Campaign this week, I have been at the forefront of establishing strong ties with Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore as we continue to establish strong diplomatic and trade ties with these three countries.  For a small country, we continue to punch above our weight and surpass expectations and it is this kind of innovative, proactive approach which will stand Wales in good stead to become a hub for international growth and investment.”

Notes to editors:

• The ILO (International Labour Organisation) unemployment is a count of those who are out of work and want a job, have actively sought work in the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks; plus those who are out of work, have found a job and area waiting to start in the next two weeks

Mrs Gillan said:

“I congratulate Owen Smith on his appointment as Shadow Secretary of State, and I look forward to working constructively with him in the interests of Wales.

“There are many challenges affecting Wales which lie ahead and which can be best solved together, just as I sought to do with his predecessor and continue to aspire to do in our relations with the Welsh Government.”

The MoD has confirmed in its Planning Round 2012 that it will commit funding to the supply of armoured vehicles to the British Army, which includes the Scout SV project led by defence firm General Dynamics, based in Oakdale and Newbridge in Caerphilly.

It is anticipated that up to 300 engineers and project managers at the South Wales plants will develop the vehicles, with hundreds of further jobs created during the manufacturing phase.

Speaking from Thailand, where she is undertaking visits to promote trade, tourism and governmental links as part of the UK Government’s GREAT campaign, Mrs Gillan said:

“The defence industry continues to be vital to the Welsh economy and this announcement is a real validation of General Dynamics’ continued investment in the talent, expertise and skills of our workers here in Wales and across the UK.

“I visited the General Dynamics UK plant in Newbridge in March last year and saw first-hand the excellent work being done. I also regularly discuss defence procurement matters and the implications for Wales with the MoD.

“This announcement provides us with the opportunity to show the rest of the world that Wales is really playing its part in providing first-class protection and support to the brave individuals working in a variety of front line situations around the world.”

Mrs Gillan, who is on a five day tour of South East Asia to promote trade, tourism and governmental links, met staff and students at one of four British Council centres in the Thai capital.

The Council works closely with the Thai Government, educational and professional institutions, and industry on a range of projects including improving standards of English language teaching in schools and joint Thai-UK projects in research development.

During her visit, the Secretary of State took part in a question and answer session with English language students. She also met three local Thai people who studied at university in Cardiff .

Mrs Gillan said:

“The British Council has a long-established and impressive relationship in Thailand and continues to promote strong educational and industry links between the two countries.
“During my visit I was impressed by the creativity, learning and training programmes run by the Council and the enthusiasm and commitment of both students and staff.”

Chris Gibson, director of the British Council in Bangkok, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate the work we are doing to strengthen cultural relations between Thailand and the UK through our work in Education, the Creative Industries and English Language; supporting Thailand’s ambitious reforms in preparation for 2015 and the establishment of the ASEAN economic community.

“Our strong network of over 6,000 Thai alumni provides the UK with great opportunities both culturally and commercially, to further build on this excellent relationship, and I was delighted that the Minister was able to meet and talk to some of these alumni in person.”

Shotton Jobcentre is currently trialing 18-24 year old ‘Supporting Youth’ sessions, during which young claimants are aided into the jobs market through a mixture of local work clubs, programmes and a flexible support fund.

The Minister later visited Honeywell in St. Asaph, Denbighshire, a diversified technology and manufacturing leader committed to sustainability through the continued development of products that address key challenges, including energy efficiency and clean energy generation. The Minister met local managers and staff before touring the light-emitting diode (LED) assembly area, which specializes in LED lighting for 24 hour continual use in car parks, factories, hospitals and other public buildings, as well as the manufacturing lines using 100% recycled window frames to produce extrusion products for cable containment.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Jones said:

“I was very keen to see the progress of the Youth Contract and Work Programme at Shotton Job Centre Plus. The programme is starting to have a real impact on employment for thousands of people across Wales, especially among those looking for an opportunity to showcase their skills. This Government is committed to giving young people in particular opportunities to enter the job market, gain work experience and valuable apprenticeships.”

DWP Employment Minister, Chris Grayling, said:

“Youth unemployment is one of the biggest challenges this country faces and we’re determined to make a difference to a problem that’s been building up for much of the past decade.

“What we’re offering through the Youth Contract is real practical support to both employers and job seekers which we hope will give young people a head start in the labour market.”

Mr Jones continued

“I was also delighted to witness the work being done by Honeywell in St Asaph who are a model of sustainable business practice, supplying much needed green products to an increasingly environmentally-minded market.

“Honeywell St. Asaph manufacturing processes are helping to protect our environment and the products produced here are contributing to improving energy efficiency. It is also particularly relevant that 80% of this facility’s sales are in the UK so this is an excellent example of a company manufacturing in the market it serves. Honeywell is great for the Welsh economy.”

Catherine Connolly, General Manager for the UK and Ireland said: 

“It was great to have Mr. Jones visit Honeywell St. Asaph today to highlight the work we do here.”

“Our LED range offers substantial energy savings and can reduce utility bills dramatically. Through being mercury free, Honeywell’s LED products also limit hazardous waste, leading to safer handling and lower disposal costs. So here we can provide environmental benefits, improved safety and substantial savings for both new and existing buildings.”

Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan will represent the United Kingdom Government on a 5 day visit to South East Asia starting today [14^th May].

Cheryl Gillan will become the first Cabinet Minister from the Coalition Government to visit Thailand, underlining the importance maintaining strong trade and tourism links as well as well as strong diplomatic ties with Thailand and other emerging powers.  During the 5-day trip, she will also visit Cambodia and Singapore.   

Mrs Gillan began her tour of the region by witnessing the signing of a $10m contract between the Thai Treasury and Royal Mint, who won a tender to supply 500 million 1Baht blanks (nickel plated).  The contract is worth £6m (300m Thai Baht) of sales revenue to the Royal Mint.

Mrs Gillan also attended a VisitBritain business networking event, where she gave the keynote speech to 200 international travel trade businesses and organisations, highlighting the support available to Thai businesses looking to invest in the UK.

The Secretary of State’s first visit to Thailand follows an earlier visit by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to South East Asia, underlining the UK’s continued commitment to working with the region to promote trade and investment opportunities. 

With the UK preparing for a ‘GREAT’ British Summer of Jubilee celebrations, Olympics and Paralympics, Mrs Gillan met today with women MPs, members of the Government and the opposition to exchange views and share knowledge and expertise regarding women’s role in politics, democracy and national reconciliation. 

Mrs Gillan will continue her visit tomorrow at the British Council Teaching Centre.  The centre helped 17,924 people sit English exams with the British Council in May 2009/10 and aims to establish 10 further academic links with Britain in 2012.  The Secretary of State will then visit Thailand’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) Headquarters, where UKBA will collect biometric information from around 50 athletes, journalists and other members of the Thai Olympic delegation. The Secretary of State will meet with the delegation to discuss UK preparation for the Olympics, before attending an evening reception with the St David’s Society of Bangkok. 

Mrs Gillan said:

“With today’s signing of a milestone deal between the Thai Treasury and The Royal Mint in Wales, we have further cemented the ties between our two countries. This deal is great news for Britain and has a special importance for me as Welsh Secretary as the aRMour™ nickel plated steel blanks which Thailand’s coins will be made from will be supplied by The Royal Mint, based in Llantrisant, South Wales.

“The Diamond Jubilee, Olympics and Paralympics will provide a worldwide platform for the UK to show all that is great about it and this summer we hope that many people will take this opportunity to visit, invest or study in the UK. 

“The Great campaign is a reminder to people all over the world about the impact which Britain has made worldwide and I am proud to be representing the UK Government in South East Asia.”

Notes for Editors:

• The Royal Mint is based in Llantrisant in South Wales.  Opened by the Queen in 1968 in readiness for the introduction of the decimal coinage, The Royal Mint’s headquarters employs more than 900 people.
• The Royal Mint won the tender for 500 million 1 Baht blanks (Nickel Plated) on 5 April 2012 worth £6m sales revenue to The Royal Mint. The blanks will be struck into 1 Baht coins by the Royal Thai Mint located in Bangkok.
• The Royal Mint has a contract to mint the victory medals for the (2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.
• The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, officially opened two new nickel plating production facilities at the Royal Mint in March 2011. The new facilities use aRMour technology which can deliver significant savings to central banks, issuing authorities and governments.
•  The United Kingdom is currently the leading EU investor in Thailand with combined investments of £1.7billion at end 2008 (ONS) and exported goods from UK to Thailand worth £714m.
• Major UK brands, such as Tesco and Boots have established their largest overseas operations in Thailand.
•   Over 50,000 Britons are resident in Thailand.

Minister David Jones attends Gold Command meeting at North Wales Police headquarters

Two lifeboats and Royal Navy and RAF helicopters were involved in the rescue of seven Polish crew after the cargo ship was left grounded at Llanddulas.  Less than six weeks later, the site of the wreck has been almost completely cleared.

Following the meeting, David Jones MP said:

“I went to thank the services and agencies involved in the clear-up operation.  It was a huge success, with environmental damage avoided and disruption kept to a minimum.

 “It was important that all involved in the exercise should know how much the Government appreciates their efforts. I was very pleased to meet them and thank them for all their hard work.”

Mr Jones said: 

“Ofcom is now inviting companies to submit their bids to help shape the next generation of community programming in Wales. With Swansea and Cardiff in the first tranche of established networks, I know we have a number of eligible contenders. We have a strong and competitive Welsh media and Local TV will ensure that appetite for local and community programming is met in a tailored but sustainable way, for future generations to enjoy.” 

Potential operators now have until 13 August to apply to Ofcom for a licence.  Ofcom will award the licence based on a set of criteria including: provision of local news and current affairs; proposals for programmes; planned launch date; and viability of the business plan. The first 21 areas were selected by Ofcom for having sufficient levels of interest from potential operators and being technically capable of receiving a local TV service. 

Notes to editors:

More information on the Government’s plans for local television in available here:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/9053.aspx