Globalisation and its impact on Wales

This Welsh Affairs Committee report examines the effects of global trade on a variety of economic sectors, including employment and skills, broadcasting, and food supply and production. The Committee found evidence of existing skills gaps in Wales, for example in specialist areas such as science, and recommends that to avoid dependence on low skilled, low paid jobs, the UK and Welsh Assembly Governments work with the higher education sector to raise the skills base. Universities are the drivers of the knowledge economy, which is key to success in the global marketplace.

The Committee believes it is imperative that the UK and Welsh Assembly Governments fully integrate the commercial potential of higher education into their policies. Welsh companies can increase their value and stimulate the local economy by exploiting a strong local identity and values, and by making use of higher level and specialist skills to offer premium goods and services that cannot be sourced abroad, particularly in the farming and food production industries, where Wales is developing a global reputation for excellence.

Also in the report, the Committee:
- welcomes the use of innovative methods of broadcasting used by S4C to engage with audiences outside Wales
- recommends the commissioning of more programmes reflective of Welsh identity
- supports initiatives helping Welsh companies to exploit their global potential in the creative industries.