Following the appointment of the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Liz Maher, president of the South and Mid Wales Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Congratulations to Ken Skates on his election as Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure.
“It’s now vital for the Cabinet Secretary to continue with plans championed by Edwina Hart, such as the M4 relief road black route, to ensure Wales’s transport infrastructure no longer has a huge bearing on our economic prosperity. Introducing a new relief road will boost business across the region, simultaneously cutting time and costs for businesses and improving our interregional and international trade links. We urge both Labour and Plaid Cymru not to let individual party dogma interfere in discussions surrounding negotiations, and to focus on swiftly resolving the current political stalemate surrounding the issue.
“The Chamber has supported Edwina Hart in her five year tenure as Minister for Economy, Science and Transport. She has undoubtedly played an integral role in creating a better Wales for all, from her contribution to the Welsh Government takeover of Cardiff Airport to her work in creating schemes such as the Accelerated Growth Programme, aiming to create 100,000 jobs by 2021.
“The Cabinet Secretary certainly has a tough act to follow, but we stand ready to work alongside him and the new government to achieve our common goal in making Wales a strong and prosperous nation.”