Wales Business Josh Morris

Wales secretary Alun Cairns is to conduct a three-day trade mission calling in on New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to boost Wales's £3.9bn trading relationship with the US.

The UK government minister flew out yesterday and will meet with companies operating in sectors from cyber security to pharmaceuticals.

He will be joined by two board of trade advisers: the former chairman of Cardiff Airport and Welsh Development Agency, Lord Rowe-Beddoe, and chief of staff for Manchester Airport Group, Collette Roche.

Cairns said: "Wales and the United States are close trading partners – and I want to ensure that we continue to build on this important relationship by creating more investment and exporting opportunities for companies from both countries.

"US firms invest more than £30bn in the UK and our commercial relationship is stronger than ever. We want to see that partnership continue to grow and flourish, making Wales the place of choice for investors."

In the year 2016-17, the Department for International Trade supported 85 investment projects in Wales, generating 2,581 jobs. In the same year, Welsh companies exported more than £16bn to the world’s largest economy, up 18.8 per cent on the previous year.

Halen Môn is one of the companies which benefits from trade with the US.

Co-founder of Halen Môn, Alison Lea-Wilson, said: "We have found exporting to the US an extremely positive process, and would urge other Welsh businesses to look to the market for the range of opportunities it offers."