English: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I'd like to begin by thanking you for allowing me to bring forward this debate today, and to begin by positing a question: what is it, what connects the most successful and diverse economic regions around the world, from Boston to Utah, from Israel to the German Mittelstand? In my view, it's a vibrant business base; a business base driven by the twin pillars of entrepreneurship and innovation. Entrepreneurship and innovation enabled by the availability of finance; research and development; skills; infrastructure and, of course, opportunity. As a Welsh Government, we have a very clear vision of what we want to achieve here in Wales. We want to grow our economy, and that means fostering entrepreneurship and helping businesses of all sizes to become more productive and more successful. But it has to be growth with a purpose: growth that tackles the inequalities and productivity challenges that hold our economy back; inclusive growth that spreads opportunities so that we all play a part and deliver to our full potential. That's why it's important to champion and to cherish our entrepreneurs and the benefit of entrepreneurial skills to enable growth within businesses. I recognise the success we have already achieved in this regard. Since its launch in 2012, Business Wales - the Welsh Government's service for entrepreneurs and SMEs - has dealt with over 150,000 enquiries; it's provided advice to over 77,000 individuals and businesses; it's engaged nearly 0.25 million young people in entrepreneurship; signposted and provided information to a further 92,000 businesses; it's created over 25,000 jobs and safeguarded a further 5,000; and it has supported the creation of 12,000 new enterprises here in Wales. I recently announced that the Business Wales accelerated growth programme since April 2015 has created over 2,300 jobs to date, and the programme has also helped participating companies attract £80 million of private sector investment and generate £38 million of exports. This highlights the potential in Wales and also the importance of a supportive ecosystem that proactively helps entrepreneurs and SMEs maximise their contribution to the Welsh economy.
Welsh: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Fe hoffwn i ddechrau drwy ddiolch ichi am ganiatáu imi gyflwyno'r ddadl hon heddiw, a dechrau drwy ofyn cwestiwn: beth yn wir, beth yw'r cysylltiad rhwng rhanbarthau economaidd mwyaf llwyddiannus ac amrywiol y byd, o Boston i Utah, o Israel i Mittelstand yn yr Almaen? Yn fy marn i, yr ateb yw sylfaen busnes llewyrchus; sail busnes gyda dwy agwedd iddi sef entrepreneuriaeth ac arloesedd. Entrepreneuriaeth ac arloesedd wedi ei wneud yn bosib oherwydd bod cyllid ar gael; ymchwil a datblygu; sgiliau; seilwaith ac, wrth gwrs, cyfle. Mae gennym ni, Lywodraeth Cymru, weledigaeth glir iawn o'r hyn yr ydym ni eisiau ei gyflawni yma yng Nghymru. Rydym ni eisiau gweld ein heconomi yn tyfu, ac mae hynny'n golygu meithrin entrepreneuriaeth a helpu busnesau o bob maint i ddod yn fwy cynhyrchiol ac yn fwy llwyddiannus. Ond mae'n rhaid i'r twf hwnnw fod â diben: twf sy'n mynd i'r afael ag anghydraddoldebau a'r heriau cynhyrchiant sy'n dal ein heconomi yn ôl; twf cynhwysol sy'n cynnig cyfleoedd eang fel y gallwn ni i gyd chwarae rhan a chyflawni i'n llawn botensial. Dyna pam mae'n bwysig hyrwyddo a meithrin ein hentrepreneuriaid a manteision sgiliau entrepreneuraidd fel bod modd i fusnesau dyfu. Rwy'n cydnabod y llwyddiant yr ydym ni eisoes wedi ei gyflawni yn hyn o beth. Ers ei lansio yn 2012, mae Busnes Cymru - gwasanaeth Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer entrepreneuriaid a busnesau bach a chanolig - wedi ymdrin â dros 150,000 o ymholiadau; mae wedi rhoi cyngor i dros 77,000 o unigolion a busnesau; mae wedi annog bron chwarter miliwn o bobl ifanc i fentro i fyd entrepreneuriaeth; cyfeirio a darparu gwybodaeth i 92,000 o fusnesau ychwanegol; wedi creu dros 25,000 o swyddi a diogelu 5,000 arall; ac mae wedi cefnogi creu 12,000 o fentrau newydd yma yng Nghymru. Cyhoeddais yn ddiweddar bod rhaglen cyflymu twf Busnes Cymru ers mis Ebrill 2015 wedi creu dros 2,300 o swyddi hyd yn hyn, ac mae'r rhaglen hefyd wedi helpu cwmnïau sy'n cymryd rhan i ddenu £80 miliwn o fuddsoddiad gan y sector preifat a chynhyrchu £38 miliwn o allforion. Mae hyn yn amlygu'r potensial sy'n bodoli yng Nghymru a hefyd pwysigrwydd ecosystemau cefnogol sy'n helpu entrepreneuriaid a busnesau bach a chanolig mewn modd rhagweithiol i gyfrannu i'r eithaf at economi Cymru.