APPENDIX 4
Memorandum submitted by the Welsh Society
in Brussels
I understand that the Welsh Affairs Committee
is looking into the promotion of Wales abroad by UK institutions.
As chairman of the Welsh Society in Brussels and a Welsh exile
for the past six years I felt that I should make a contribution.
Although the views expressed here are my own and not those of
the Society we have nonetheless discussed this issue and were
largely in agreement on our conclusions, you may well receive
submissions from other members.
In brief I would say that it is difficult to
see what, if anything, UK institutions do to promote Wales here
in Belgium. Until a few years ago we were fortunate in having
a Welshman as British Ambassador here. Sir John was an enthusiastic
supporter of Welsh causes and did much for our country, but without
his presence in the embassy little now appears to happen. This
is fairly typical in my experience, Wales only benefits when we
are fortunate enough to have a Welsh person in a position of influence
who has a personal commitment to promoting Welsh interests. This
is obviously not a satisfactory situation.
As regards to other institutions here in Brussels
the story is much the same. Wales did have a number of cultural
events here to mark the holding of the EU summit in Cardiff and
certainly the British Council and the embassy were involved, where
the driving force and the funding came from for these I couldn't
say. Apart from that particular series of performances and exhibitions
during the period of Britain's presidency I can recall little
else that has ever been done by the BC for Welsh culture. The
Welsh Society has regularly organised St David's Day celebrations
here with speakers and music in co-operation with the Wales European
Centre and other Welsh bodies, but the BC's role in that has been
peripheral.
Similarly the British Tourist Authority appears
to do little for Wales. WTB literature is available in the BTA
office and that is about all. The WTB has its own stand at the
annual tourist fair in Brussels and for the rest of the year tourism
in Wales is forgotten.
Very few obviously Welsh goods are available
for sale here. Almost the only one we could recall was Ty Nant
water which is to be found in most supermarkets and in many up-market
restaurants. How much official support this has received I wouldn't
know, but, if it can sell mineral water abroad, it would indicate
that good packaging and marketing plus commercial contacts can
work for almost any Welsh product. There is obviously a lesson
there for other Welsh companies, but how likely is it that any
British official will be sufficiently interested to look into
the matter?
It is my opinion and that of others to whom
I have spoken that most official British bodies do little or nothing
to promote Wales abroad and it is too optimistic to expect them
to. Far more realistic and fruitful for Wales is that its own
bodies and organisations do the job themselves. The Wales European
Centre has recently been expanded and has new premises, it is
the obvious body to promote Wales here in the capital of Europe.
The Assembly will have to look into how it promotes Wales in the
rest of the world, but, inevitably, if you want a job done do
it yourself.
Rhodri Thomas
Chairman
10 October 2000
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