A NORTH Wales politician says there is hope for the area’s economic progress as the new year approaches.
David Jones, MP for Clwyd West and Secretary of State for Wales, said there was “cause for optimism” for the region’s economic future, with large-scale infrastructure projects on the horizon.
Mr Jones said since he took over the role of Welsh Secretary in September, he had re-organised the role to focus more on Wales' economy – especially in areas where powers had not been devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government, such as railway infrastructure and large-scale energy projects.
The Secretary held up recent examples of development in the area, including the formation of a working group to form a business case for electrification of the North Wales main line, and the resumption of plans for a new power station at Wylfa with Horizon Nuclear Power sold to Hitachi Ltd.
He added that the recent contract from AirAsia to build 100 A320 aircraft at the Airbus plant in Broughton – a major employer in North Wales - had also buoyed the area's economic prospects.
Mr Jones added: “Although we are coming to the deepest recession since the 30s, and although we're still affected by the problems of the Eurozone, there are sectors of the British economy that are doing very well and North Wales is benefitting from that.
“What we want is to see that prosperity spreading across the country.
“While it is difficult for a lot of people, nevertheless there is some cause for optimism.”