The Cornwall Growth Board approved recommendations to adopt the Defence Sector Addendum to the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Plan 2024-35, and to set up a working group to explore the development of a Cornwall International Strategy, as well as endorsing Global Cornish as the Cornwall Diaspora Strategy. The board also agreed to develop an options paper to explore setting up Global Cornish as an entity external to Cornwall Council.

Defence Sector Addendum to the Good Growth Plan

The Cornwall Growth Board approved the Cornwall Good Growth Plan 2024-35 Defence Sector Addendum, subject to suggestions made during the meeting. The addendum was attached as Appendix 1 to the report following the increased defence focus of the UK Industrial Strategy¹.

The report recognised that while defence is not identified as a standalone sector in the Good Growth Plan, it is deeply embedded within many of Cornwall's distinctive strengths, be it space, marine, critical minerals, or renewable energy. These sectors not only support national security objectives but also offer pathways for high-value economic growth, innovation, and skilled employment. The report also noted the strategic need for food security as part of wider defensive resilience, creating links to agri-food, a core economic sector.

The key points of the addendum were summarised as follows:

• Space - Cornwall offers nationally significant space and aerospace assets such as Goonhilly Earth Station, Spaceport Cornwall and the National Drone Hub.
• Marine - Cornwall offers unique coastal and offshore environments ideal for testing naval and autonomous systems and has a long and proud maritime history.
• Critical Minerals - The granite intrusion that underlies Cornwall contains Europe's largest lithium resource, some of the world's richest tin deposits, and one of the world's largest undeveloped tungsten deposits.
• Renewable Energy - Cornwall has the renewable energy assets to help power the UK, be it through solar, wind, geothermal, or floating offshore wind.
• Agri-Food - Cornwall's agri-food and fishing sector plays a key role in feeding the nation by providing the UK with a secure supply of high quality food and drink products.

The Economic Forum highlighted the need to include the GCHQ location in Bude along with the subsea cable network as important defence infrastructure located in Cornwall. Creative sector representatives requested mention of creative sector dual-use technologies like simulation, virtual reality, and AI-driven design, which are increasingly used in defence for training, strategic planning, and operational decision-making. Strengthening references to advanced manufacturing as a key underpinning of the defence contribution from the Good Growth Sectors was also suggested.

Cornwall International Strategy & Global Cornish - the Diaspora Project

The Cornwall Growth Board supported the setting up of a working group to explore the development of a Cornwall International Strategy to complement the Good Growth Plan and associated inward investment priorities. The board also endorsed Global Cornish as the Cornwall Diaspora Strategy, and agreed that an options paper be developed to set out the business case and model for Global Cornish to be set up potentially as an entity external to Cornwall Council.

The Cornwall Diaspora Strategy 2025-2028 was written by The Diaspora Institute through the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Cornwall Trade and Investment (CTI) project. The strategy delivers on the Leader's responsibilities in building and maintaining relationships with the Cornish Diaspora, which is estimated at six million.

The 2025-2028 Global Cornish Strategy proposes a phased delivery spanning three years. The Devolution and Partnerships Team have been delivering the first phase of the Global Cornish Strategy: socialisation and stakeholder buy-in. To raise awareness of the Global Cornish strategy, particularly to the Cornish diaspora in the South East of England, Cornwall Council will officially launch the initiative at the Houses of Parliament on 15 December.

Global Cornish will help showcase the unique identity and global connections of Cornwall, using opportunities to amplify and increase awareness of Cornwall on the world stage.

The International Strategy would deliver against the vision in the Cornwall Plan and help deliver on the Leader's portfolio to build and maintain relationships with devolved nations, other international bodies and the Cornish Diaspora. It would ensure that those relationships deliver on all of the Council's 2026-2030 Priorities and ensure that available opportunities that Global Cornish present are maximised.

The International Strategy to position Cornwall as a vibrant, internationally connected Celtic nation by strengthening joint working with key international partners and the UK government, as well as utilising the influence of Cornwall's global diaspora, could be formed along the following pillars:

• Raise Cornwall's profile by showcasing the unique identity and global connections of Cornwall.
• Drive investment into growth sectors by utilising embassies, brand ambassadors, and the Cornish diaspora to promote direct investment to specific sectors of Cornwall's economy.
• Position Cornwall as the global leader for low-carbon experiences for visitors and residents, maximising links to the environment, heritage, and culture.
• Help businesses grow and become as prosperous as they can be by empowering Cornwall's businesses, supporting them to enter new markets through utilising key engagement opportunities and leveraging the diaspora's influence.
• Raise the reputation and profile as an inclusive and welcoming international student experience, increasing the number of international students at universities, and using Global Cornish to maintain the many and varied links through the world with students and alumni.

For the Interceltic Festival in Lorient, Brittany, 2026 is the 'Year of Cornwall': Cornwall – at the Heart of the Celtic Sea. The council wants to make the whole of 2026 the 'Year of Cornwall' by using opportunities like the Interceltic Festival to amplify and increase awareness of Cornwall on the world stage and would like to launch the International Strategy on St. Piran's Day together with the 'window into Cornwall' website.

Councillor Dick Cole, Group Leader - Mebyon Kernow Group, welcomed the proposal to establish an informal cross-party working group to advise on the Local Plan and asked when its size and composition would be agreed. He suggested a panel of 13 members to ensure political and geographic balance, with representatives from each network area to strengthen local engagement. He also raised concerns about the engagement plan, noting that Cornwall councillors and Community Area Partnerships (CAPs) had so far only received briefings rather than contributing to evidence gathering.