New York 'embassy' to open

The location of the first Wales International Centre in New York is set to be revealed on Thursday.

The centre, which the Welsh Assembly Government claims will boost Wales' trade links across the Atlantic, is to be housed in a Manhattan skyscraper.

When you come out to the US, you realise what a big market it is, and how competitive

Andrew Davies AM

The high-profile business-orientated outpost is set to cost the assembly £220,000, with more taxpayers money coming from the Welsh Development Association (WDA).

But the project - it is to be the first of four across the world - has been criticised as a set of unnecessary "mini-embassies".

Assembly leaders hope the acquisition of a New York base will do much to raise Wales' profile in America.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan announced the setting up of the international centres during a St David's Day promotional trip to New York.

They are envious of the access fellow Celtic countries Ireland and Scotland have to US business bosses and want to create a communication channel of their own, separate from that of the UK government.

It is also hoped a presence in America will help foster cultural links between the US and Wales.

Andrew Davies: Wants Wales to compete in US

Other international centres are expected to open in San Francisco, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Brussels - although their cost has yet to be disclosed.

Wales' Economic Development Minister, Andrew Davies, travelled to New York to finalise the centre's opening.

He said: "When you come out to the US, you realise what a big market it is, and how competitive.

"We feel we have to come out here and we have to be punching our weight."

However, the scheme has already proved highly controversial with the Welsh Conservatives who claim that they are "costly mini-embassies".

South West Wales AM Alun Cairns said the assembly should use the Foreign Office and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw as the proper channel for promoting its interests abroad.

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"The assembly is to look at public services in Wales," he said.

"While public services are deteriorating, the First Minister's attention should be with those," he said.

The expansion in the US and the Far East comes as the assembly is withdrawing funds for its promotion arm in Europe, the Wales European Centre, which was set up in 1991.

The assembly is to withdraw its funding for the organisation by the end of April 2003, while expanding its Brussels-based operation.