A third of Welsh exports worth 拢5.6 billion come from the North Wales twin economic powerhouses of Wrexham and Flintshire, business leaders were told.
The figure was revealed by Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns who praised the region for its 鈥渕iraculous鈥 contribution the Welsh economy when he addressed a meeting of Wrexham Business Professionals at the town鈥檚 Ramada Hotel.
These counties include the 6,000 worker Airbus wing assembly plant and Wrexham and Deeside industrial estates.
The other keynote speakers were Welsh Government Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates, also the AM for Clwyd South, and Ian Bancroft, the chief executive of Wrexham County Borough Council.
Mr Cairns said: 鈥淣orth Wales and Wrexham in particular - continues to punch well above its weight.
鈥淓xports from Flintshire and Wrexham are already at 拢5.6 billion, a third of the Welsh total.
鈥淔lintshire and Wrexham had the highest economic growth rate of any part of Wales in 2017 and North Wales had the highest employment rate in Wales last year.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I want to pay tribute to all of you and to recognise the role this region is playing in our country鈥檚 miraculous economic growth. For it is businesses that ultimately take the risks that result in prosperity.鈥
He said it made him optimistic about the 海角视频鈥檚 imminent departure from the European Union.
Mr Cairns, who campaigned for Remain in the Brexit referendum, added: 鈥淚 see Brexit not as a hurdle but as a golden opportunity for Wales to assert its position within a global Britain, recognising the opportunities both in Europe and beyond.
鈥淚 say this because 90 per cent of global growth will come from outside the EU over the next 10 years.
鈥淏ut that doesn鈥檛 mean we should ignore the European market on our doorstep. I don鈥檛 view it as one or the other 鈥 the EU Market or the rest of the world.
Mr Skates said a planned 拢240 million investment in the North Wales Growth Deal by the Welsh and 海角视频 Governments will be a game changer for North Wales.
He said that both the 海角视频 and Welsh Governments were committed to backing the Growth Deal and had identified three key themes in advanced manufacturing, energy and the rural economy.
鈥淲e believe these are the right mix for North Wales to meaningfully approach the task of bringing about lasting change for future generations,鈥 he said.
Mr Cairns agreed and said: 鈥淭he North Wales Growth Deal can make a real difference to business and people in communities from Holyhead to Hawarden.
鈥淭he 海角视频 Government remains as committed as ever to work with business and the public sector to develop a bespoke deal that works for the whole of North Wales.
鈥淣ow is the time to come together for a final push and ensure we get this deal off the drawing board and over the finishing line. So, let鈥檚 work together and make it happen.鈥
