Israeli companies will invest in Newport-based manufacturer SPTS Technologies which will bring 30 research and development jobs to Newport and will see £13 million invested in local Welsh suppliers. Further jobs will be created in Cardiff following Israeli investment in Sapiens International Corporation as well as Amiad Water Systems, Swansea and Lordan UK, Hengoed, Caerphilly county.
Israeli investors visited businesses in Wales and met with Rt. Hon. Stephen Crabb MP, Secretary of State for Wales, ahead of yesterday’s Euro 2016 qualifier between Wales and Israel.
Stephen Crabb said: “Through the UK Government’s global trade network, international investors can see that Wales is an outward-looking nation and an attractive destination for business. Israel is a close friend of the UK and we enjoy an excellent trade relationship, built on decades of co-operation”.
Edwina Hart, Welsh Government Economy Minister, added: “I am delighted that Wales is proving to be such an attractive location for advanced technology companies from Israel and that we are seeing new investment as well as significant on-going reinvestment…The visit by senior executives from leading Israeli companies is most welcome as they explore new business opportunities in Wales and build on the growing links between our two countries”.
The announcement follows recent controversy, with Cardiff council dismantling an exhibition of photographs in the central library depicting Israeli Jews and Arabs playing football together after pressure from anti-Israel groups.
Photographs from the exhibition, called ‘Low football – Jewish-Arab football: diversity and co-existence through lower-league football’ were instead displayed at Cardiff City Stadium ahead of Sunday’s match. A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy, which sponsored the exhibition, said: “Those who didn’t want the co-existence exhibition at the library, got it instead at Cardiff City Stadium, which is very fitting”.
Israeli diplomats toured the exhibition along with officials, including Ken Skates, Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Mohammad Asghar, the Welsh Assembly Member for South Wales East and Shadow Minister for Equalities & Sport and Stephen Crabb.
