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Wales Freeport Status secured for Anglesey

Emily Roberts
The UK and Welsh governments today confirm that two new Freeports, one in Anglesey and one in Port Talbot and Milford Haven, have been successful in their bids.

Freeports allows goods to be brought in with less red tape, and then new products made with those goods are exported without heavy export charges. Alongside a comprehensive package of benefits, the Freeport sites will enjoy tax and customs incentives to boost investment, creating thousands of high-quality jobs in some of our most disadvantaged communities.

Research indicates that the Anglesey Freeport could:

    • create up to 13,000 high-skilled, high-wage jobs for local people over 15 years; 
    • increase UK GDP by £1bn by 2030, stimulated by business investment in R&D, servicing the supply chain of new green technologies; 
    • increase manufacturing output across North Wales whilst working in partnership with world-class educational institutions and supporting the upskilling of communities across North Wales.

The Freeport will accelerate the take up of sustainable energy production by building on existing industry-leading net-zero initiatives on the Island’s coastline. This will bolster the County Council’s existing ‘Energy Island Programme’ and produce much-needed energy supplies for the rest of the UK. Net zero goals will be achieved through the largest consented tidal energy project in the world.

The Anglesey Freeport will extend 45km from Holyhead port, covering the whole Isle of Anglesey, with four zones designated as tax or customs sites. The proposed sites are Holyhead Port (including 213 acre former Anglesey Aluminium site and deep water jetty), Parc Cybi, Rhosgoch and M-SParc.

M-SParc welcomes the announcement, which supports our ambition for Research, Impact and Innovation in the region.
We welcome the opportunity to work on the detail over the coming months in order to support skills and job creation in the region. We will also be using the opportunity to support our aims of reaching Net Zero by 2030.

MD Pryderi ap Rhisiart said “This is a positive announcement for the region and the free port will support our work to create quality jobs and protect our communities. Research and development and innovation are at the heart of the application and this is exactly what M-SParc and our innovative tenants are doing. We are also proud that the work of developing skills is a key part of the plan.” he went on to say “We now look forward to developing the details with our partners.”

Dylan J. Williams, Chief Executive at the Isle of Anglesey County Council, said “I am delighted by today’s decision, which is a historic moment for Ynys Môn. Securing Freepost status can deliver real, transformational change to communities here and across North Wales.”

“It will stimulate significant long-term job creation for local people as well as wider socio-economic benefits and supply chain developments.  This will help keep our young people in their local communities, preserving our Island’s unique character, culture and the Welsh language.”

For more information about Anglesey Freeport, please visit https://angleseyfreeport.co.uk/home-e/

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