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Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom (UK), with international relations remaining a UK government matter, not devolved to Wales. The Welsh government however, works to promote Welsh interest abroad with 21 international offices worldwide. The First minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford currently responsible for international relations since taking on the role from Eluned Morgan in 2020.

International activity

Although international relations is not devolved to Wales and is managed by the UK government, the Welsh government has an international strategy. In 2018, Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely was appointed International relations minister. The First minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has been responsible for international relations since 2020.

Welsh international offices

The Welsh Government's international policy since 2020, "Wales, Europe and the world" includes country relationships with Germany, France, Ireland, the United States and Canada; and regional relationships with the Basque Country in Spain, Brittany in France and Flanders in Belgium. The Welsh government has 21 international offices in 12 countries which include offices in London, Belgium, Canada, China, Ireland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and five offices across the United States.

International strategy

The International Strategy was set out in January 2020 by the then Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language. The strategy is to last 5 years and includes the following aims:

• Raising the profile of Wales internationally
• Grow the Welsh economy; assist Welsh businesses to increase exports; encourage investment in Wales; create jobs and opportunities in Wales; utilise and develop new technology
• A commitment to sustainability

International activity is publicly available with multiple international visits and meetings held annually, with the most (14 ) held in 2019. Meetings in 2019 included meetings between the Llywydd and the Norwegian ambassador and meetings between the deputy presiding officer and the Italian ambassador and another meeting with the Thai ambassador.

St David's Day

The first minister of Wales' decision to spend Saint David's Day in Brussels showed a marked change in the international strategy of the Welsh government.

Former first minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones made the following diplomatic visits for St David's Day:

• 2011: Brussels
• 2012: Washington DC and New York
• 2013: Barcelona
• 2014: New York
• 2015: New York
• 2017: Washington DC
• 2018: Montreal

Mark Drakeford has placed a greater emphasis on European diplomatic visits with more visits to Brussels:

• 2019: Brussels and Paris
• 2020: Brussels
• 2022: Brussels
• 2023: Brussels

Taith

Wales' started its Taith student exchange programme in September 2022 to replace the Erasmus scheme. Jeremy Miles launched the scheme that is “tailor-made for Wales which aism over four years for 15,000 students and staff from Wales to travel abroad and for 10,000 to work or study in Wales.

Trade

Following Brexit, the UK government has negotiated free trade agreements with EU, US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand with the Welsh government working to ensure Welsh interests are included.

The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee advises and hols the Welsh Government to account on matters of economic development, business, skills, international trade, agriculture, fisheries and food.

The Trade policy advisory group that advises the Welsh government on trade matters and post-Brexit negotiations. It is made up of individuals from businesses with expertise in exporting and importing goods and services.

The top 10 export destinations for Wales in 2022 were as follows:

1. USA
2. Ireland
3. Germany
4. France
5. Netherlands
6. Belgium
7. China
8. Canada
9. Spain
10. Turkey

European relations

The Welsh government has an international office in Brussels which focuses mainly on European Union matters and 5 other offices across Europe. Mark Drakeford has placed a greater emphasis on European diplomatic visits with visits to Brussels in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023 on St David's Day.

On 21 March 2023, EU Ambassador Pedro Serrano made his first visit to Wales. He visited Cardiff jointly with the ambassadors of Slovenia, Slovakia and the High Commissioner of Cyprus.

France

Approximately 80 French businesses are based in Wales which employ around 10,000 people. Welsh exports to France totalled a worth of £1.8bn in 2020 and France is the second largest export destination for Wales after Germnay.

The first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford visited Paris on 16-18 March 2023 to launch the year of 'Wales in France. Drakeford hoped that 2023 would be a "year-long celebration of cultural, business and sporting events". The First Minister lead a delegation of Welsh organisations, meeting UNESCO in their headquarters in Paris. He also met representatives to mark the links between Wales and Brittany.

North America

USA

Members of the United States Congress have established the Friends of Wales Caucus, promoting cultural and economic ties between the USA and Wales.

In October 2022, seven Welsh businesses went to the USA as part of a Welsh trade mission which was led by the Welsh government. In 2023, minister for the economy Vaughan Gething visted the West coast of the USA with the aim of improving the economic links between Wales and the USA and promoting Wales' technology and creative industries.

Canada

The Welsh government designated 2022 as the year of "Wales in Canada" which aimed to promote Wales in Canada.

The Welsh Government and the Government of Quebec set up a funding scheme aimed to support organisations in both Wales and Quebec in Canada to promote co-operation. Particular emphasis was given to green recovery, economy, science, innovation, art and culture will be prioritised.

Asia

Qatar

In September 2022, Welsh Government rejects some calls to close the Welsh Qatar office due to concerns about human rights. The Welsh Government said that it hoped to engage with countries with differing human rights to Wales, to influence change there.

Japan

On the 14 December 2022, Japan’s UK Ambassador, Hayashi Hajime and the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford hosted a reception at the Japanese Embassy in London to mark 50 years of Japanese-Welsh economic relations.

Through the Welsh Government’s International Strategy, the Welsh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oita Prefectural Government of Japan, to strengthen relationships including economic exchange; arts & culture; sport; academia; tourism; food & drink.

Africa

The Wales and Africa programme operated by the Welsh government aims to support people in Wales to help tackle poverty in Africa.

The International Learning Opportunities programme (ILO) is a programme for experienced leaders and managers in Wales to spend 8 weeks in Lesotho, Namibia, Somaliland or Uganda.

The Wales and Africa grants scheme is a grant scheme for community groups and organisations in Wales that work in Sub Saharan Africa.

Hub Cymru Africa is an organisation that aims to support Wales and Africa Health Links Network, the Sub-Saharan Advisory Panel and Fair Trade Wales. It is based at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs.

The Size of Wales is an organisation which aims to sustain an area of African tropical forest of a similar size to Wales. The organisation is supported by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and the Welsh government.

Sport

For the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Welsh Government said that it aimed to market Wales to the World by emphasising Wales as an open, progressive country, desirable for business and tourism. The Welsh Government launched a world-wide marketing campaign including a campaign aimed at USA and Europe.

The Welsh Government was set to spend £1.8m to promote Wales' participation in the World Cup. These were set to include a festival of creativity and culture, a concert in North America and a Football Museum for Wales.

First minister, Mark Drakeford and other Welsh LAbour ministers travelled to Qatar for the football world cup during which he would aim to "promote inclusivity" as well as "respect for human rights" during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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