The aerospace industry is vital to the Welsh economy

More than 220 jobs are being created in Blackwood, south Wales, with an �8.4m expansion of Nordam Europe's manufacturing plant.

And Britax Aircraft Seating plans to create nearly 200 jobs by creating a new component manufacturing plant in Cwmbran, south Wales.

The Welsh Assembly Government's Minister for Economic Development and Transport Andrew Davies announced the two investment projects at an aviation conference in Cardiff on Wednesday.

We are showing a clean pair of heels to the rest of the UK in terms of employment figures Andrew Davies AM

He told BBC Radio Wales: "These are going to be well-paid, highly-skilled jobs - it's a major coup for us.

"We are showing a clean pair of heels to the rest of the UK in terms of employment figures.

"Our rise in jobs is probably the best in the UK.

"Building on existing strengths is the way forward and aerospace is growth area.

"Already, Wales supplies 10% of UK jobs.

"We have a major share of that market and we want to keep it."

The aerospace industry is vital to the Welsh economy.

Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies welcomed the jobs

This year alone more than �3.5bn has been invested or will be invested in the sector in Wales.

This includes �500m at Airbus UK and some �70m by the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) at St Athan.

The Welsh aerospace industry employs more than 20,000 people in companies ranging from large multi-nationals to niche specialists.

Mr Davies said it was particularly appropriate the conference was being held in Wales, which already has 10% of the UK aerospace industry, and is home to six of the world's top 20 aerospace companies including Airbus, BAE systems, General Dynamics, General Electric, Raytheon and Thales.

New investment

In August the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) revealed it had paid �8m for more than 800 acres of land earmarked for an aerospace business park.

The purchase of Ministry of Defence land at St Athan, near Cardiff, paved the way for jet repair units providing thousands of highly-skilled jobs.

But last week, doubts over the long-term future of the Dara plant, also in St Athan, were raised after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) published recommendations which could overhaul the way the RAF's jets are repaired.

The review recommended splitting the RAF maintenance work done at Dara between front-line military bases.

Dara, which repairs Harrier and Tornado jets for the RAF and employs about 2,100 people, depends on the RAF for contracts.

But Mr Davies said on Wednesday that the investment in Dara would continue.

He added: "Adam Ingram (UK Armed Forces Minister) has made it very clear indeed that they wouldn't have invested this vast amount of money if they weren't committed."

Dara repairs RAF aircraft

The Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Europe conference in Cardiff is the largest aerospace event of its kind in the world attracting more than 1,100 industry delegates from around the globe.

WDA Chief Executive Graham Hawker said the MRO Europe conference at Cardiff International Arena was a good opportunity to showcase expertise.

He said: "Our main objectives are to stimulate new business opportunities, to position Wales as a centre of aerospace excellence and to inform key decision makers of the strategic opportunities that Wales has to offer, such as St Athan."

But peace campaigners have condemned it for promoting the arms trade.

Ray Davies, vice-chair of CND Cymru, told BBC Radio Wales he was furious the exhibition was taking place.

"I'm bitterly disappointed with the WDA for supporting the event, but I'm more disappointed with our assembly members," he said. "It's an immoral industry - a murderous industry - and it's one we don't want in Wales at all."

Around 100 protesters including members of the Green Party, Plaid Cymru and CND picketed the conference on Tuesday.