Interministerial Group for Business and Industry: communiqué 3 February 2026
Updated 19 May 2026
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The Interministerial Group for Business and Industry met on 3 February 2026 via video conference. The meeting was chaired by the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA (Northern Ireland Executive).
Attendees
The attending ministers were:
- UK government – Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald MP and Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall MP
- Welsh Government – Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans MS
- Northern Ireland Executive – Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA
- The Scottish Government – Minister for Business and Employment, Richard Lochhead MSP
What was discussed
Attendees discussed:
- recent economic developments across the UK and the importance of continued partnership and collaboration in delivering the UK industrial strategy
- approaches to place‑based policy and ensuring benefits are felt across all parts of the UK
- the role of public finance institutions, including the National Wealth Fund, in supporting investment and strategic priorities
- preparations for maintaining continuity of work during the upcoming election period, including continued senior official engagement and development of a forward work plan