With ASKAR SHEIBANI

CEO, Comtek Network Systems UK Ltd & chair DBF

Several years ago, the six councils in North Wales put their political differences to one side and combined forces to create a regional development body to transform the economic and social wellbeing of North Wales and its citizens.

They created the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB). This was the beginning of collaboration rather than competition between the councils.

All the six council leaders joined the board as the members with voting powers. The team combined their resources and worked hard with total dedication.

They applied to the UK and Welsh government for a regeneration grant called the North Wales Growth Deal. They knew well that the best way to achieve their aspiration of winning a large grant would be to work closely with the private sector. They therefore actively sought support from the North Wales Business Council.

Later in 2018, they invited several well-known locally based, independently minded business leaders to form a private-sector advisory board called North Wales Growth Deal Business Delivery Group (BDG).

The BDG has some of the most experienced and commercially skilled entrepreneurs within the team and I am proud and honoured to be chairing these talented board members in support of the NWEAB.

After several years of hard work together with the advice and enthusiastic collaboration with the private sector team, North Wales was awarded £120m by the UK government and £120m by the Welsh government. The final deal agreement was signed off on December 17, 2020 by both governments.

This is a historic achievement by the six councils, which will transform North Wales' industries and infrastructure such as digital, renewable energy, tourism, advanced manufacturing, housing, etc.

This tremendous achievement showcases true leadership and the success which can be brought about when all politicians - Labour, Independent, Conservative and Plaid Cymru - work together with the private sector for the good of our region and its citizens.

This generous regeneration grant will enable North Wales to attract massive injections of private sector investment on a global level.

This timely regeneration award has landed at the most crucial time in North Wales's history. As the interest rates are so low, it makes investment in infrastructure much more attractive to global investors.

The city of London being home for large international investment houses makes it much easier for North Wales to promote itself as a desirable investment region within the UK for the investors.

Such investors have billions of pounds in the City which they are eager to invest in infrastructure. I am convinced that the NWEAB, working together in collaboration with the private sector team members within the BDG will bring great economic and social success to North Wales.

This is the time to ditch all political differences and unite together in support of all the ideas and projects that will transform our region's economy.

We have several fantastic projects and opportunities produced within and outside the Growth Deal that will have a long-lasting, positive economic impact in North Wales.

For instance, the MP for Anglesey, Virginia Crosbie, working together with the local authority and the local stakeholders, are now energetically campaigning to gain a Free Port status for Anglesey.

Freeport status, as it did in Liverpool, will drastically change the economic fortune of Anglesey and create more opportunities for North Wales. Let's all unite and support this campaign.

We are going through this horrible pandemic which is destroying lives and livelihoods in North Wales. This is the time for putting all our ideological differences aside. This is the time for unity and collaboration.