A Plaid Cymru Welsh Government would be “firmly pro-business”, its leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said.
Speaking at Cardiff Business Club, the MS for Ynys Môn said he knew businesses wanted governments to set out their medium to long-term thinking and acknowledged that the electoral cycle was a barrier to this.
“Real progress requires the confidence to invest and to innovate,” he said.
He told the audience at Cardiff’s Parkgate Hotel:
“A Plaid Cymru government would be firmly pro-business, representing what I hope will be a step change in attitudes and approach.”
He spoke about The First 100 Days document which the party has released ahead of the Senedd election in May.
The plan says:
“Many businesses in Wales already punch above their weight globally. But the Welsh economy is also bursting with untapped potential.
“Our economic plan will unlock that potential – growing and sustaining Welsh-owned businesses, delivering good jobs, reviving our town centres and boosting living standards.”
The Plaid Cymru leader told Cardiff Business Club about details of the plan, including a commitment to establish a panel of business and economic experts to refine the remit, governance, and operating model for a new National Development Agency.
This would not be a reproduction of the Welsh Development Agency, which had “lost its sense of direction” by the time it was disbanded, he said. Instead a new National Development Agency would be fit for the 21st century and would be business-led and outcome-driven.
One challenge is the “ownership gap” in Wales, the MS said. The party has said it would ensure that more successful businesses stay Welsh owned. ap Iorwerth said that whilst attracting inward investment would be a central mission of a new National Development Agency, there is currently a problem with scaling Welsh businesses, or holding on to those which do succeed.
In an audience Q&A chaired by Business News Wales editor Gemma Casey, ap Iorwerth answered questions about procurement, skills, business rates, the potential of Cardiff Airport, and more.
Cardiff Business Club chair Phil Jardine said:
“These are challenging times for businesses and, as the Plaid Cymru leader acknowledged in his speech to us, the electoral cycle adds its own uncertainties.
“That is why it was invaluable to our members to be able to hear from Rhun ap Iorwerth what his party’s priorities for the economy will be should they be in power in Wales after May 7.
“We’re grateful for his candid address and his willingness to answer questions on such a broad range of topics from our members and guests.”
The next event in the club’s calendar will be a lunch on Tuesday, March 24 2026 between 12pm and 3pm, where the guest speaker will be Tom Ilube CBE.
Tom is a Non-Executive Director of FTSE100 company WPP plc, the world’s largest advertising group, and has founded several tech companies. He is also Chair of the King’s Trust UK and was Chair of the Rugby Football Union from 2021-2024. Previously he was on the Board of the BBC.
The lunch will be held at the Parkgate Hotel, Westgate Street, Cardiff. Tickets are available here: https://cardiffbusinessclub.org/event/tom-ilube/
