Wales" financial sector is growing and has a crucial role toplay in restoring growth to the UK economy, says the City ofLondon"s Lord Mayor.

Lord Mayor David Wootton will be visiting Cardiff on Friday 16December 2011 to hear the views of local businesses and from theWelsh Government including the Minister for Business, Enterprise,Technology and Science, Edwina Hart AM.

Speaking ahead of his visit, the Lord Mayor said:"I am delighted to be in Wales today so I can better representWelsh interests on both domestically and on my overseas visits. Inmy international role as Ambassador for the UK based financial,professional, and business services industry, I represent thesebusinesses regardless of geographic location.

"Wales is looking to develop and increase employment infinancial and related professional services to 200,000 by 2021. Ihope I can help that by building on links which clearly demonstratehow the City of London and the Welsh financial services sector cancomplement each other and work together.

"The financial and professional services industry is veryimportant for the whole UK economy. Despite recent problems, Ibelieve the foundations are sound and the sector will continue tomake an important contribution to the national economy.

"Developing new areas of the UK economy will require substantialamounts of capital, much of it "risk capital". Only asophisticated and globally connected financial and professionalservices industry is capable of delivering the combination offinancing British businesses will need if they are to succeed."