Welsh Assembly Government has committed £28.66m to support Airbus's development

The Assembly Government's firms with Airbus will enable the creation of an environmentally friendly facility for the assembly of wings made from composite materials at Broughton - and this most recent investment will build future skill sets and strengthen the role of Wales as a centre of high-technology industries.

Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister for Wales, told that "Today we can all celebrate a major investment guaranteeing Airbus’ partnership with Wales for years, if not decades to come.” We also celebrate the fact Wales and the United Kingdom will now be moving into the mainstream in composites manufacturing - not just playing at composites, but touching the top end of high-tech composite manufacturing technology.

“Airbus is an integral part of the Welsh economy which is an invaluable asset to us but the investment and the move into composites - reinforce and enhance our reputation still further as a country with high skills and high value products.”

Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Deputy First Minister for Wales, said that “This is not merely an issue of developing skills and safeguarding the employment of skilled people, vital though that is. It is an issue of introducing new technology that will put Wales and the UK at the forefront of carbon fibre composites technology.”

Brian Fleet, Senior Vice-President, Centre of Excellence Wing & Pylon, Airbus in the UK, said that “We welcome the Welsh Assembly Government’s vital forward-looking investments in composites. This investment helps us to look beyond the sharp challenges that currently face us as a result of the global economic decline and allow us to take a long view into the future.“There’s no question about it; this will help the people of Wales for generations to come.”