ENTREPRENEURIAL fever has struck Newport and district, according to the Welsh Development Agency.

The WDA claims its recent "Biz Clinic" held at the Parkway Hotel in Cwmbran was oversubscribed and the number of visitors was treble that of last year's event.

The agency said its observations were in line with those of the recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), which showed that entrepreneurial activity in Wales had grown 74 per cent since 2002, the second-largest increase of any UK region.

The GEM report also stated that 53% of adults in Wales believe they have the knowledge, skills and experience to start a business.

The WDA has translated this into the claim that its campaign to encourage more people across Wales to start their own business has been a huge success.

The agency said it had received over 10,000 requests for its business start-up book "Stop Dreaming, Start Living" since its launch last November.

Daniel Jones, who works for the WDA's Entrepreneurship Action Plan, said: "People can start a business and in turn change their lives and benefit the entire country.

"All of these results add up to a reassuring outlook for the Welsh economy in making it more competitive in the world market."

Copies of Stop Dreaming, Start Living can be obtained free by calling Business Eye on 08457 96 97 98 or emailing Rhian.Noot@wda. co.uk