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| Hundreds of IT jobs to be created in south Wales by CGI UK | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than 620 IT jobs are being promised for south Wales after a Canadian firm announced it would expand its Bridgend base. | |
| CGI UK is receiving a £3.2m Welsh government grant to support the jobs, which will be created five-years. | |
| The first minister and economy minister will visit the firm later. | The first minister and economy minister will visit the firm later. |
| Meanwhile, a car parts factory in Merthyr which announced it would create 220 jobs in May is also opening its new site. | |
| Tenneco Walker, which manufactures exhausts, currently employs 190 people at its existing site in Tredegar. | Tenneco Walker, which manufactures exhausts, currently employs 190 people at its existing site in Tredegar. |
| The second site at High Point, Dowlais Top, will make and assemble components. Economy Minister Edwina Hart will officially open the factory later. | The second site at High Point, Dowlais Top, will make and assemble components. Economy Minister Edwina Hart will officially open the factory later. |
| Skills | Skills |
| IT firm CGI currently has three sites in Bridgend at Waterton Cross Business Park, Bridgend Science Park and Waterton Industrial Estate. | IT firm CGI currently has three sites in Bridgend at Waterton Cross Business Park, Bridgend Science Park and Waterton Industrial Estate. |
| The company provides cloud computing, cyber security and other IT service functions and currently employs 900 people in south Wales. | The company provides cloud computing, cyber security and other IT service functions and currently employs 900 people in south Wales. |
| As well as the Welsh government grant, the firm is also receiving funding from the Skills Growth Wales programme to train new employees and expand current workers' skills. | As well as the Welsh government grant, the firm is also receiving funding from the Skills Growth Wales programme to train new employees and expand current workers' skills. |
| It will begin recruiting immediately, and a condition of the grant is that all jobs are in place within five years. | It will begin recruiting immediately, and a condition of the grant is that all jobs are in place within five years. |
| Analysis by BBC Wales Economics correspondent Sarah Dickens | Analysis by BBC Wales Economics correspondent Sarah Dickens |
| Having attracted many foreign firms to Wales in the 1990s - in fact Wales with 5% of the population attracted 15% of the inward investment in the UK - by 2005-06 inward investment fell to only 2% of projects from overseas. | Having attracted many foreign firms to Wales in the 1990s - in fact Wales with 5% of the population attracted 15% of the inward investment in the UK - by 2005-06 inward investment fell to only 2% of projects from overseas. |
| But last year the number of projects rose from 23 to 67, and that success has continued with 79 attracted in 2013-14. | But last year the number of projects rose from 23 to 67, and that success has continued with 79 attracted in 2013-14. |
| Dr Martin Rhisiart from the University of South Wales' business school said: "Wales has performed very well, picking up about 7.9% of all UK inward investment so performing above its quota or share." | Dr Martin Rhisiart from the University of South Wales' business school said: "Wales has performed very well, picking up about 7.9% of all UK inward investment so performing above its quota or share." |
| The news comes a week after official figures showed the unemployment rate had fallen in Wales for the second successive quarter from 6.7% to 6.5%, with 3,000 people fewer out of work. | The news comes a week after official figures showed the unemployment rate had fallen in Wales for the second successive quarter from 6.7% to 6.5%, with 3,000 people fewer out of work. |
| Speaking about the announcement, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "This is great news for Wales and our IT sector and a great vote of confidence in Wales as a place to do business." | Speaking about the announcement, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "This is great news for Wales and our IT sector and a great vote of confidence in Wales as a place to do business." |
| CGI UK president Tim Gregory said: "As we continue to grow our business and our clients increasingly adopt newer technologies such as cloud it is more important than ever that we can offer them a highly-skilled workforce. | CGI UK president Tim Gregory said: "As we continue to grow our business and our clients increasingly adopt newer technologies such as cloud it is more important than ever that we can offer them a highly-skilled workforce. |
| "Our Bridgend-based team will be at the forefront of delivering award winning services and solutions." | "Our Bridgend-based team will be at the forefront of delivering award winning services and solutions." |
| A Welsh government spokeswoman said inward investment in Wales was at a record high, with 79 projects attracted in 2013-13, creating or safeguarding 10,805 jobs. | A Welsh government spokeswoman said inward investment in Wales was at a record high, with 79 projects attracted in 2013-13, creating or safeguarding 10,805 jobs. |