Michael German comment on WDA merger.

3.14.52pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 12th Oct 2005

Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and a former Minister for Economic Development, said:

"News that the WDA brand is to be scrapped amazes me. WDA is a world renowned name. It is one of Wales' best-known brands.

"Any big enterprise entering in to a merger would keep and develop its best brand names, not consign them to history.

"It takes years to build up a reputation and trust in a brand. The WDA has built that up over many years. It's a name with credibility, especially overseas. It will be very difficult for the Welsh Assembly Government's Economic Development Department - whatever it ends up being called - to build up such a level of recognition from scratch.

"This is further evidence of the ill-thought out process behind the abolition of the ASPBs. Rhodri Morgan decided to act first and think about it later. Effective leadership would have been to think about it first. In his haste to bring these bodies under Assembly control, there is a danger that Wales' reputation as a place to do business is done lasting damage."