A cross-party letter of support for the Celtic Freeport bid has been delivered to the Office of the First Minister, ahead of the joint UK and Welsh Government decision to allocate Wales its first freeport. 

The letter, which has been signed by a host of Members of Parliament and Senedd Members, was delivered to the First Minister’s office by Celtic Freeport champions Samuel Kurtz MS, Senedd Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire and David Rees MS, Senedd Member for Aberavon.

An imminent announcement over Wales’ first freeport is due to be made over the next several weeks by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and First Minister Mark Drakeford.

If successful, the Celtic Freeport is set to deliver £5.5 billion of new investment; 16,000 new high-quality green jobs, and £1.4 billion in port infrastructure facilities across Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot.

Speaking of his support for the Celtic Freeport campaign, local Senedd Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Samuel Kurtz MS said: 

“With a decision due imminently, this is the final push to ensure that decision-makers know of the enormous benefits that a Celtic Freeport will bring to our region.

“Over the last several months, I’ve been fighting hard to make sure that we’re successful. At every opportunity I’ve had, I have been banging the drum for the Celtic Freeport with my colleagues in the Welsh Parliament and the House of Commons.

“If successful, then this bid will transform our communities, bring about thousands of jobs for local people,deliver billions in investment and help us reach our net zero targets. This really is an opportunity that cannot be missed.”

A similar letter was also delivered to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of this week’s budget by Stephen Crabb MP, Member of Parliament for Preseli Pembrokeshire.