First Minister Eluned Morgan has declared the inaugural Wales Investment Summit a resounding success, stating it has delivered a major boost to the nation's economy by helping to secure £16 billion in investment projects and thousands of new jobs.
Major Investment Announcements Across Key Sectors
The summit, held at ICC Wales in Newport on 1 December 2025, attracted 300 companies and investors from 32 countries, with around 60% not currently invested in Wales. The event served as a catalyst to finalise a series of high-value projects.
The largest single commitment is a £10 billion investment from US firm Vantage Data Centers to build a network of new AI data centres in south Wales. This project is expected to create 5,000 jobs, predominantly in construction. Vantage will develop sites at the former Ford engine plant in Bridgend and the Welsh Government-owned Bro Tathan business park, adding to its existing Cardiff campus.
Other significant investments announced include:
- Vodafone committing £600m to extend its standalone 5G coverage to 99% of Wales.
- GE investing £18m to modernise its aerospace engine testing facility in Nantgarw.
- Associated British Ports pledging £42m for upgrades across five Welsh ports, including a new deep-water berth in Newport.
- RWE funding a £200m battery-energy-storage facility in Pembroke to help stabilise the UK energy grid.
- Eni committing £700m to a carbon-capture and storage project at the former Point of Ayr colliery in Flintshire, creating over 1,000 jobs.
- Bad Wolf, the Cardiff-based production company, investing £2m in new productions expected to generate a £30m economic impact.
Political Focus on Planning and EU Alignment
First Minister Morgan emphasised that while many projects were in the pipeline, the summit provided crucial focus and discipline to get deals "over the line." She also identified two key areas for future economic growth: planning reform and closer ties with the European Union.
Morgan stated that leaving the EU "undoubtedly made a big dent in our economy," noting Wales's large manufacturing base and high proportion of exports to the bloc. She expressed a desire for the closest possible relationship with the EU's single market, a matter she called "really matters" from a Welsh Government perspective.
On planning, the First Minister revealed she had moved the planning function into the economy portfolio and invested more money to speed up processes. A new Planning Infrastructure Act, introduced this week, aims to streamline applications by allowing associated developments to be bundled together.
UK Government Backs Welsh Tech and Green Ambitions
Speaking at the summit, UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined further support for Wales's strategic sectors.
Mr Kyle highlighted the establishment of two AI growth zones—one in north Wales supporting Rolls-Royce's small modular reactor project at Wylfa, and one in south Wales supporting data-centre investment. He also praised Wales's strengths in aerospace, cyber, drones, and its position as a global leader in compound semiconductors through the CS Connected cluster.
Chancellor Reeves confirmed an additional £10m in the Budget for South Wales's semiconductor sector and detailed the £2.5bn of UK Government backing for Rolls-Royce's small modular reactors in North Wales. This project could support 3,000 jobs during construction and power the equivalent of three million homes.
Reeves also announced that the two AI growth zones would each receive £5m in funding, with the north Wales zone expected to create 3,500 direct jobs and the south Wales zone forecast to generate over 5,000 jobs in the next decade.
The Chancellor noted that inward investment into Wales had risen by 23% year-on-year, with 65 new projects secured in 2024/25, creating and safeguarding over 4,000 jobs—the highest number anywhere in the UK.
The summit concluded with a strong sense of momentum, with the First Minister and UK ministers pledging continued collaboration to leverage private investment with public ambition, aiming to solidify Wales's status as a destination for future-focused industries.
