The zones are intended to boost the local economy by offering incentives to specific industries.
In England 21 enterprise zones have been announced since the start of the year. Devolved administrations were encouraged to consider similar policies.
Enterprise zones were used to encourage urban regeneration in the 1980s and '90s. Zones in England offer simplified planning regulations, capital allowances and Government-supported superfast broadband. There are also plans to allow local authorities to ringfence the increased business rates generated by the new zones in order to borrow against these funds for future development.
Business Minister Edwina Hart said that the new scheme would not be a replication of that in England where enterprise zones are used to encourage any business to set up in a specific area. The first five Welsh zones are targeted to specific industries including a financial services centre in Cardiff, an energy sector zone in Ynys Mon (Anglesey), a focus on aerospace at St Athan, an advanced manufacturing zone in Deeside and an automotive sector zone at Ebbw Vale.
She added that no decision had been taken on specific incentives to offer in particular zones.
"We will take a bespoke approach to each location and will deploy a selective approach to the policy interventions, using some in some locations and not in others," she said. "This is because we need to get best value from the very modest consequential funding of approximately £10m from the UK Government. We have an opportunity to take a targeted approach in Wales and design a bespoke Welsh solution that doesn't just automatically replicate the approach taken in England."
Hart added that although the five sites were the preferred locations for the first stage of the enterprise zone programme, the Assembly was committed to future opportunities in Wales.
"We will also continue to deliver on our commitments to strengthen the conditions that will enable businesses to create jobs and sustainable economic growth across Wales," she said.
