The strategic initiatives of the Mid Wales Growth Deal were discussed at a recent meeting.

The Mid Wales Economic Advisory Group (EAG) met with Ceredigion and Powys County council leaders at the Elan Valley visitor centre.

They collectively discussed the Mid Wales Growth Deal, a pivotal time as it morphs from theory into practice.

Steve Lesbirel, EAG's chairman, said: "We now have a full group consisting of entrepreneurial industry leaders and we look forward together with a passion to help drive the Mid Wales economy forward.

"Our group plays a key role in providing a strategic and constructive challenge to strengthen proposals and advise on new opportunities for the Growing Mid Wales Board to consider."

These proposals will be crucial in shaping the landscape of Mid Wales, with various programmes and projects gearing up for delivery.

Among those in the heated discussion about future plans were Councillor James Gibson-Watt, leader of Powys County Council, and Councillor Bryan Davies, leader of Ceredigion County Council, who both hold the co-chairman title of the Growing Mid Wales Board.

The leaders said: "The Growth Deal is entering an exciting stage of development which sees programmes and projects moving into the delivery phase, and we therefore need to ensure business representatives help us to strengthen and challenge the Portfolio to have maximum impact on the Mid Wales Economy."

At the heart of the meeting was a major Elan Valley Lakes project, presented by project developers Dŵr Cymru, ripe and on-course for the final stage of the business case development, paving the way to be Mid Wales's first beneficiary of the growth deal funds.

The EAG, an independent body of the Mid Wales Board, is charged with providing a challenging business insight into the Growth Deal, with each of its members bringing specific expertise to the table for the growth and sustainability of the region.