First Minister Mark Drakeford is visiting the Basque Country this week to meet with the President, government ministers and the President of the Basque Parliament.
In a statement, a spokesperson said the trip would focus on the renewable energy sector and economic development. The First Minister will also deliver a speech at the Metropolis of the Future conference about work taking place in Wales on healthy ageing and future generations.
According to the Welsh Government, the First Minister is also meeting two Basque companies that have strong links in Wales – CAF and Gestamp – to strengthen existing economic links with the region. The Basque Country, a region bordering Spain and France, became autonomous in 1979 and has its own language – Basque. The First Minister’s trip will also see him discuss the promotion of the Basque language across the region, according to the Welsh government. You can get more politics news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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CAF, a rail stock manufacturer, expanded into Wales in 2017 with a factory in Newport and multi-national manufacturer Gestamp has a base in Llanelli.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Wales and the Basque Country have enjoyed a close relationship over many years, working and learning from each other on language development. The visit offers an opportunity to highlight that Wales remains a European country.
“We will continue to build and strengthen our relationships across Europe to create a stronger, fairer and greener country for people living and working all across Wales, for businesses and our partners.”
The region has continued to defend its language and culture, and, like Wales, there has been a growing interest in independence over the last few years. It has relative economic independence and its own tax system, where it decides how much money to send back to the central Spanish government. It is politically autonomous, governed by its own laws and is responsible for the welfare of its citizens.
The First Minister took a similar trip on March 16 to France – Wales’ second largest export destination – to meet energy and industrial companies investing in Wales. The First Minister hosted a reception, with numerous cultural and sporting events designed to strengthen connections between the countries.
During his visit to France, the First Minister was particularly moved by the Pennal letter sent by Owain Glyndŵr to the French King Charles VI in 1406 asking for help in his fight against English rule. The letter detailed Glyndŵr’s wish to create a Welsh church where the clergy were allowed to speak Welsh free from the authority of Canterbury.
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