For many Australian companies, the UK and European marketplaces provide a lucrative location for expansion. Yet, establishing operations overseas can be a daunting prospect for many companies.

For those Australian companies looking for an offshore base to expand into global markets, the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) provides the support and financial assistance needed.

The WDA has helped global leaders such as mining giant BHP Billiton with their particular business needs, right through to smaller Australian icon companies such as Hills Industries and first time exporters such as environmental control company Australian Environmental Exports Pty Ltd (AEE).

While historically Wales has enjoyed a strong manufacturing base, in recent years it has successfully moved into new technology-based industries including opto-electronics, telecommunications, semiconductors, biotech and pharmaceuticals.

Electronics and telecommunications giants alone now provide work for more than 37,000 people across the country at local divisions of international companies such as Sony and Matsushita.

The WDA has also helped more than 200 biotech, medical device and pharmaceutical companies set up base in Wales, generating jobs for more than 13,000 highly skilled workers.

Once companies have indicated their interest in establishing a site in Wales, the WDA is able to assess its individual needs and then match those with facilities and services offered by Wales.

Using its unique ‘Team Wales’ approach, specialists across all sectors are called upon to work closely with companies before, during and after they have established their operations in Wales. The team is designed to offer ongoing facilitation and support to all investing companies, to ensure each receives:

• advice on available grants and financial incentives;
• research in selecting suppliers;
• support for recruitment and labour training;
• support for transferring employees and families; help identifying housing and obtaining work permits;
• help establishing links with appropriate universities for research and development purposes;
• assistance with technical evaluation of sites and buildings; provision of bespoke buildings;
• land acquisition and site development; and
• cooperation ventures with private sector property companies.

Top Ten Reasons for Choosing Wales

1. Its large pool of technical talent
2. Its excellent universities and research centres
3. Its excellent telecommunications infrastructure
4. The comprehensive support offered by the WDA
5. Excellent transportation
6. Proximity to London – its closer than competitor regions like Dublin, Edinburgh or Paris
7. Great quality of life
8. Lower cost of doing business
9. Industrial expertise across research, development and production
10. Benefits of being part of the M4 corridor – a 320kilometre expanse containing the UK’s highest concentration of technology companies and skill sets

Contact: Rhodri Tudur-Jones
+62 (2) 8211 2712
www.locate-in-wales.com