Governor of Wales Visits L.A. Businesses

Hoping to drum up new economic investment for Britain’s second-smallest region, the Welsh minister of state is scheduled today to visit 10 Los Angeles-based companies that are or will be doing business in Wales to talk about initiatives under the region’s new semiautonomous assembly. Peter Hain, whose position is equivalent to that of governor, will also discuss possible uses for more than $1 billion in special funds targeted for Wales by the European Commission to encourage development of telecommunications and other “knowledge-based” industries in the region. Hain’s visit kicks off a five-day tour of the U.S. that will take him to San Francisco and Cleveland for meetings. Among the points Hain is expected to stress will be how the new Welsh regional assembly, voted into existence last month, plans to foster business economic growth.