English: It is gratifying to see that the Welsh Government now has a clear idea of its role in supporting the business community in Wales, especially with regard to investment. It appears we now have a framework within which the Government can achieve its objectives. This is an essential part of delivering that much-needed boost to prosperity so desperately needed by the people of Wales, especially those in the lower-end skills sector. The new economic contract is also to be welcomed. We particularly like the Cabinet Secretary's objective to ensure that with all contracts, each party gets something for something and that it is to include an ongoing dialogue with business. We all acknowledge the considerable challenge Wales faces with the relatively small amount of money companies are investing in research and development. So, it was good to see that this point is dealt with in the financial contract that would ensure that companies improve productivity, upskill workforces and invest in R&D. Turning to Government investment in the business sector, I have long called on the Government to simplify pathways to investment for businesses, and it is to be noted that this was one of the key issues raised in your consultations with the business sector. I have some concern that you feel the best way to deal with these issues is, in consort with the consolidation of some funds under the economy futures fund, to advocate yet another advisory board. Is this introducing yet another tier of bureaucracy? There is no doubt that calls to action should very much concentrate financial assistance to those businesses involved in developing the goals that the Government has outlined in other statements on economic policy, but there are many business types out there that may not, because of the very nature of the business, be able to comply with the criteria set out under the calls to action. Are those to be excluded from investment entirely as a result of the implementation of this action plan? We do note the considerable engagement the Welsh Government have had with industry in developing this new economic strategy and welcome this constructive process, especially as the business sector seems to be fully engaged. It is to be hoped that this consultation process will continue in order to help facilitate the goals set out by the Welsh Government. Whilst, as has been indicated, we welcome many of these proposals, I must agree with both of my fellow AMs Russell George and Adam Price. We note that, however, there are no well-defined targets other than the stated goal of seeing productivity and gross value added per head narrowed to 90 per cent of the UK average by 2030. We urge the Government to give more clarification regarding timelines and targets, so that the Chamber can scrutinise the delivery of those targets. After all, measurability is a crucial part in triggering corrective actions in order to bring plans back on track.
Welsh: Mae'n braf gweld bod gan Lywodraeth Cymru bellach syniad clir ynghylch ei swyddogaeth yn cefnogi'r gymuned fusnes yng Nghymru, yn enwedig o ran buddsoddi. Ymddengys erbyn hyn fod gennym fframwaith ar gyfer cyflawni amcanion y Llywodraeth. Mae hyn yn rhan hanfodol o roi'r hwb hwnnw i ffyniant y mae angen dybryd amdano ymysg bobl Cymru, yn enwedig y rhai yn y sector sgiliau is. Mae'r contract economaidd newydd i'w groesawu hefyd. Rydym yn arbennig o hoff o amcan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i sicrhau, gyda phob contract, fod pawb yn cael rhywbeth yn gyfnewid am rywbeth arall, ac mae hynny'n cynnwys deialog barhaus gyda busnesau. Rydym i gyd yn cydnabod yr her sylweddol sy'n wynebu Cymru gyda'r swm cymharol fychan o arian y mae cwmnïau yn ei fuddsoddi mewn ymchwil a datblygu. Felly, roedd yn braf gweld yr ymdrinnir â'r pwynt hwn yn y contract ariannol a fyddai'n sicrhau bod cwmnïau yn gwella cynhyrchiant, uwchsgilio gweithluoedd ac yn buddsoddi mewn ymchwil a datblygu. Gan droi at fuddsoddiad y Llywodraeth yn y sector busnes, bûm yn galw ers tro ar y Llywodraeth i'w gwneud hi'n haws i fusnesau buddsoddi, ac mae'n rhaid dweud mai dyma oedd un o'r materion allweddol a grybwyllwyd yn eich ymgynghoriadau gyda'r sector busnes. Mae gennyf rai pryderon y teimlwch mai'r ffordd orau i ymdrin â'r materion hyn yw, ynghyd â chydgrynhoi rhywfaint o arian dan gronfa dyfodol yr economi, creu bwrdd cynghori arall eto. A yw hyn yn cyflwyno haen arall o fiwrocratiaeth? Nid oes unrhyw amheuaeth y dylai galwadau i weithredu roi pwyslais sylweddol iawn ar roi cymorth ariannol i'r busnesau hynny sy'n ymwneud â datblygu'r nodau a amlinellwyd gan y Llywodraeth mewn datganiadau eraill ynglŷn â pholisi economaidd. Ond mae sawl math o fusnes na fydd efallai, oherwydd natur y busnes, yn gallu cydymffurfio â'r meini prawf a nodir dan y galwadau i weithredu. A ddylid eithrio'r rhain o'r buddsoddiad yn gyfan gwbl yn sgil rhoi'r cynllun gweithredu hwn ar waith? Rydym yn cydnabod y gwaith sylweddol a wnaeth Llywodraeth Cymru gyda'r diwydiant wrth ddatblygu'r strategaeth economaidd newydd hon ac yn croesawu'r broses adeiladol hon, yn enwedig gan yr ymddengys bod gan y sector busnes ran lawn yn hynny. Gobeithio y bydd y broses ymgynghori hon yn parhau er mwyn helpu i hwyluso'r nodau a amlinellwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Er ein bod, fel y dywedwyd, yn croesawu llawer o'r cynigion hyn, mae'n rhaid imi gytuno â dau o fy nghyd-Aelodau Cynulliad Russell George ac Adam Price. Nodwn, fodd bynnag, nad oes unrhyw dargedau wedi'u diffinio'n eglur ac eithrio'r nod datganedig o weld cynhyrchiant a gwerth ychwanegol crynswth y pen yn cynyddu i 90 y cant o gyfartaledd y DU erbyn 2030. Rydym yn annog y Llywodraeth i roi mwy o eglurhad ynghylch amserlenni a thargedau, fel y gall y Siambr graffu ar gyflawni'r targedau hynny. Wedi'r cyfan, mae'r gallu i fesur yn allweddol ar gyfer sbarduno camau unioni i ddod â chynlluniau yn ôl ar y trywydd iawn.