Young people from across the world are in west Wales to look at ways of stopping the "brain-drain" from rural areas.

More than a hundred students from 20 countries are attending a conference in Carmarthenshire on Thursday highlighting the problem of youth migration.

Our young people move out of the area and they don't come back

Jean Williams, event organiser

The aim of the conference, called Should I stay? - Should I go?, is to provide young people with more opportunities to attract them to stay in their home areas.

Students, from a number of different countries, are on exchange visits with schools in the area and are linking up with local businesses.

Jean Williams, assistant head at Queen Elizabeth Cambria school in Carmarthen, has organised the event.

She said: "Our young people move out of the area and they don't come back.

"I'm sure we will have the same experiences to share with our friends from overseas.

"But some countries have the problem in reverse.

"Cologne in Germany for example have too many young people moving in and don't have enough jobs to go around.

"Together we hope to learn from each other and listen to ideas from our young people on what is needed to keep them here."

Delegates have been sent from schools in countries including Canada, Bangladesh, France, Ireland, Belarus, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Japan, Netherlands and Scotland.

New industry

Sarah Veck, Carmarthenshire council's head of economic development, said there were plans to address the problem locally.

"There are exciting technium industry developments providing high quality and skilled jobs in the area," she said.

"We are also improving the leisure opportunities in the county."

Mrs Williams said the conference has a wider benefit.

"Events like this break down the barriers between the young people of different countries," she said.

"They can see they are a part of a much larger world."