The Port of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire was recently visited by the Secretary of State for Wales as the UK Government launched its new Energy Security Plan after announcing that the Celtic Freeport bid had succeeded.

The Secretary, the Rt. Hon David TC Davies MP visited the UK's largest energy port where the Welsh and UK governments chose the Celtic Freeport bid, encompassing the ports of Milford Haven and Port Talbot.

Both Governments also secured Anglesey Freeport, which became the first freeport in Wales, helping to create tens of thousands of new jobs in the green industries of the future.

The Celtic Freeport will generate over 16,000 new green jobs and up to £5.5 billion of new investment. The transformational bid spans clean energy developments, particularly floating offshore wind and sustainable fuels, as well as further training and innovation facilities, heavy engineering and the steel industry across south-west Wales.

The Welsh Secretary spent time with representatives from the Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire County Council and organisations from around the Haven. He was able to see first-hand the Port of Milford Haven's critical role and will continue to play in UK energy resilience and security. He also had a chance to see the rapidly progressing developments already underway at Pembroke Port to transform the site into a renewable energy hub bringing highly skilled jobs to the region. The visit ended with a trip to Mainstay Marine Solutions to witness the extent of its large-scale engineering capabilities, which will undoubtedly play a significant role in this green industrial revolution.

Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, said: "The UK Government has long been committed to creating a freeport in Wales, so it was fantastic to announce the creation of two and then to visit Milford Haven to hear about the plans the Celtic Freeport has for local jobs, investment and the development of green industries.

"The Freeports programme is already benefitting businesses and levelling up communities elsewhere in the UK. I look forward to seeing greater prosperity delivered for Wales due to Celtic Freeport's successful bid."

Tom Sawyer, the Chief Executive at the Port of Milford Haven, hosted the visit. He commented: "This is a milestone moment for everyone involved in the Celtic Freeport bid. I'm delighted that the Secretary of State for Wales chose to come and see the work already underway at Pembroke Port and take in the scale of our operations here.

"It's clear the UK and Welsh governments appreciate the magnitude of opportunity that ourselves and Port Talbot have to offer to create a path for a green and more secure energy future, and we look forward to working with our partners to deliver the objectives set out in our Celtic Freeport bid".

The Celtic Freeport consortium comprises the Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire County Council, Associated British Ports (ABP) and Neath Port Talbot Council.

The granting of a freeport status to two ports in Wales would generate billions of pounds say campaign backers.

Among the three bidders is Celtic Freeport which hopes to see the south Wales ports of Milford Haven and Port Talbot become the first such port in the country since 1980.

Milford Haven Port (including Pembroke Dock) is the UK's largest energy port while Port Talbot in neighbouring Neath Port Talbot County Borough has major steelwork plants.

They hope that their bid will be given the status which would lead to relaxed tax and customs rules benefitting both regions with £5.5 billion expected in new investment.

Celtic Freeport which Afloat reported in December, promises to create 16,000 new jobs. In addition to reducing harmful carbon emissions on the overall environment of Wales.

The freeport bid is backed by Associated British Ports (ABP), Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire councils and Milford Haven Port Authority.

The ports and councils backed bid is based around maximising local benefits of a separate plan in the Celtic Sea for floating offshore wind projects.

So what is a Freeport?.... click BBC News for more.

The Chair of the Celtic Freeport bid consortium visited the Port of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire recently to see first-hand how a freeport would transform the Welsh economy.

Such a transformation would secure the benefits of the floating offshore wind (FLOW), hydrogen and sustainable fuels industries, for the people of Wales.

Roger Maggs MBE chair of the consortium on his visit to the UK's largest energy port, was hosted by Rt Hon Simon Hart MP and Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP along with representatives of the Celtic Freeport bid consortium.

Over 16,000 new jobs and up to £5.5 billion of new investment is expected to be generated by the Celtic Freeport. It will create a wide range of opportunities across Wales by accelerating investment, encouraging innovation, securing our future energy needs and fast-tracking modern skills development for new green industries.

A notable example of how focussed investment has already created new opportunities across the region is the £60 million Pembroke Dock Marine project. With construction of a mega-slipway, upgraded port infrastructure and additional workboat pontoons due to be completed towards the end of 2024, an increasing number of clean energy developers and support businesses are choosing to base themselves here, benefitting from being part of a renewables hub with easy access to the Celtic Sea.

Not only is this building a stronger economy, but it is also unlocking exciting new career opportunities across the region.

For further information of the Celtic Freeport bid can be found here.