AS YVETTE COOPER, Foreign Secretary, prepares to host her counterparts from five Central Asian countries for economic and security talks, Pontyclun-based company Concrete Canvas is celebrating the first anniversary of a landmark £180 million deal in Kyrgyzstan, secured with support from the UK Government.
While Kyrgyzstan might not be top of mind for Welsh businesses thinking about export and expansion overseas, the mountainous nation, which even has a growing rugby scene, has proved an exciting opportunity for Concrete Canvas.
The company manufactures a synthetic alternative to concrete – Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats (GCCMs) – and, last year, signed a deal to build its first production plant outside the UK in the Chuy region of northern Kyrgyzstan.
Construction has started, with the first production line expected to start operating next year.
UK Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, Nic Bowler, and his team played a crucial role in securing a visit from the then Kyrgyz Prime Minister to the Concrete Canvas factory in Pontyclun, Wales, which resulted in the £180 million export deal being signed.
In addition to arranging a tour of the Concrete Canvas factory, Nic drew on his local knowledge of all that Wales has to offer to launch a soft power charm offensive, including lunch at the well-known Bear Hotel and a business reception on the popular Glanusk Estate.
UK Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, Nic Bowler, said: “Wales is brimming with innovative businesses seeking to connect with the world. Part of what I love about my job is promoting these businesses – and even better, connecting the right people to sign deals.
“Bringing this unique offer together and making it accessible to the Kyrgyz delegation put Wales firmly on their itinerary and ensured Concrete Canvas was their first stop.”
Peter Brewin, Co-Founder of Concrete Canvas, said: “The support from Nic Bowler and his team has been instrumental in this venture, which will enable Concrete Canvas and our partners to bring a world-leading British technology to Kyrgyzstan, one of the fastest growing economies in the world.”
“Through this joint venture with our partners Integra, UCC and the Kyrgyz government, we are working to conserve the Kyrgyz water resources more effectively, in order to feed and provide renewable hydropower for the people of Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia.
“We have found the Kyrgyz Government to be an excellent partner.”
Developed by Concrete Canvas, GCCMs are a cost-efficient solution for lining irrigation channels to prevent erosion and reduce water loss. The flexible, concrete-filled geotextiles harden after water is applied to create a durable, waterproof surface.
They can be installed more rapidly than conventional concrete and require only minimal equipment, speeding up efforts to modernise Kyrgyzstan’s dilapidated Soviet-era irrigation channels and helping to return farmland to productive use.
Other countries in Central Asia are also expected to import the unique British technology.
Stephen Doughty MP, Minister for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories, who is also Member of Parliament for Cardiff South and Penarth, said: “This government is committed to driving economic growth across the UK, including in Wales, and cutting the cost of living for British people.
“This is a great example of how our diplomatic network is delivering for Wales – supporting homegrown talent in accessing new opportunities for trade and investment.”
This week, the Foreign Secretary is hosting her counterparts from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in London for talks that are expected to result in a number of deals relating to critical minerals and university partnerships.
Back in Kyrgyzstan, Nic and his team will continue banging the drum for Wales and the UK, identifying opportunities, attracting investment, and helping to get business deals across the line.
