The Welsh Conservatives said it would close the Welsh Government’s network of overseas offices describing their running cost as a wasteful use of taxpayers’ money. However, the Welsh Government said their offices, which total 20, play a key role in helping to promote Wales to the world, as well as bringing in new business investment and jobs.
Its office locations include those in New York, Montreal, Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi, London, Dublin and Berlin.
For the 2023/24 financial year, figures from the Ƶ Government’s Department for Business and Trade, showed Wales secured 53 foreign direct investment projects which promised to create 1,904 jobs and safeguard a further 1,864. Projects include those from new investors into Wales as well as expansions involving operations of overseas companies already based in Wales.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar, said the cost of maintaining the Welsh Government’s overseas offices amounts to around £4.6m annually and has called for their immediate closure with savings created redirected to fund frontline services.
In a letter to First Minister, Eluned Morgan, Mr Millar questions how the Welsh Labour Government can justify such levels of spending on overseas offices when international relations remains the remit of the Ƶ Government.
He said: “It is absolutely ridiculous that Welsh Labour are squandering millions of pounds of our money funding 20 mini-embassies across the world.
“International relations are not devolved matters yet the Welsh Government continues to waste millions on maintaining overseas offices that make little difference to most people in Wales.
“The Welsh Government must stop squandering taxpayers’ money on these lavish outposts and start addressing the real issues at home instead, such as fixing our crumbling NHS, supporting councils on the brink, and easing the cost-of-living crisis — not playing at being a global power.
“The Welsh Government should work with the Ƶ Government to ensure that Wales’ interests are adequately promoted overseas, using Ƶ Embassies as necessary.”
In response the Welsh Government said: “We work very closely with the Ƶ Government to promote Wales on the international stage. Our international offices link Wales with the world, support our economy by attracting trade and investment and support Welsh businesses with export markets. For example, our offices in India have helped build our relationship with the country and has resulted in many nurses and doctors being recruited from India to play important roles in the Welsh NHS.”
