Wales Office
Alun Cairns will tonight (Friday) celebrate the achievements of some of Wales most dynamic companies at the Fast Growth 50 Awards.
The Secretary of State for Wales is speaking at the annual event, hosted by the Western Mail.
Now in its 18th year, the event is the brainchild of Dylan Jones-Evans, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at Bristol Business School.
Mr Cairns will tell the audience:
Its because of the hard work and dedication of companies in this room that Wales has seen the fastest growth outside London since 2010.
Its because of your expertise and commitment that there are 22,000 more small and medium enterprises in Wales than in 2010.
The Secretary of State will say that Brexit poses challenges to business - but the Welsh economy is well set to make the most of new opportunities.
The Fast Growth 50 includes companies from across the Welsh economy, representing the breadth of success in our country and showcasing the talent, perseverance and hard work of Welsh entrepreneurs creating wealth and employment.
There will be challenges ahead, but Wales remains a great place to do business and I firmly believe that we have a tremendous platform to build on as we leave the EU.