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First Minister commit to further empower the Development Bank of Wales but rules out a new WDA

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Speaking to the CBI Wales North Wales dinner she said she would chair a new national Jobs Council

First Minister Eluned Morgan.(Image: John Myers)

First Minister Eluned Morgan said the Development Bank of Wales should be empowered, suggesting a significant increase in its financial firepower to support the growth of SMEs, while also committing to streamlining business support.

Addressing the North Wales dinner of employers body CBI Wales, the First Minister said that if still in office after May’s Senedd Election, she would seek to secure a fairer Welsh share of innovation and research council funding from publicly funded bodies such as research councils and Innovate UK, although she did not indicate how this would be achieved. She also dismissed calls for creating a new version of the Welsh Development Agency.

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It was the late Rhodri Morgan, when First Minister, who abolished the arm’s-length Welsh Government WDA back in 2004. While at the time of its demise it had become over-bloated, with more than 1,000 staff and arguably too many business support strands, it remains one of the most recognisable Welsh brands, particularly overseas.

READ MORE: Wales needs to deliver more than 10,000 homes a year to hit government targetREAD MORE: Welsh rugby makes a huge economic contribution shows new report

Plaid has committed to effectively establishing a new streamlined version of the WDA through a national development agency, which will take on Welsh Government business support and inward investment functions. What is not yet clear is the relationship between a new agency -which would seek to attract the best talent from the private sector -and the Development Bank of Wales.

In rejecting calls for a new WDA, the First Minister said: “Wales may give its support to others – those who offer plans for more plans, delay, duplication, indecision and commissions. Also for a new WDA, but with no plan for what it will do, nor the money to make that happen.”

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On the Welsh Government’s business support regime, which includes its outsourced Business Wales offer and its wholly-owned development bank, she said: “We will empower the Development Bank of Wales even further. It has already loaned over £1bn and helped deliver tens of thousands of jobs. We will cut down on business bureaucracy by streamlining support and carry out a root-and-branch review of business rates to make them fairer for all.”

In the last few months, the development bank has extended its services so that it can now offer loans to farm businesses.

She did not give any indication as to how the development bank would be “empowered”, but one route would be through securing investment mandates from pension funds, potentially via the British Business Bank, and increased use of UK Treasury-funded financial transactions capital, which has supported development bank lending.

According to a recent report from Martin Broogaard and David Phillips of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the Welsh Government received £3.4bn (in real terms) in financial transactions capital between 2012–13 and this year. Of this, 80% will have to be repaid to the UK Government, while the remainder can be recycled indefinitely into further loans as repayments are made.

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The report adds: “Current plans imply an additional £600m of funding between 2026–27 and 2029–30, but changes in rules mean that this can all be recycled into further loans in the future. This change will enable the Welsh Government to make increasingly large loans over time to the private sector (albeit subject to state aid rules).”

On productivity and research funding, Ms Morgan said: “Productivity sits at the core of the Wales Growth Plan, backed by £500m to support innovation, adoption of new technologies and business expansion. Our productivity rates are increasing more quickly than the UK’s, but we acknowledge that we are starting from a lower base. We will continue to work closely with the UK Government, providing the stable political landscape you need to make investment decisions.

“The UK Government has already committed £14bn for a pipeline of rail projects. I will push to secure Wales’s fair share of the UK’s investment in R&D, which will be essential for those productivity gains.”

The First Minister said her administration has listened to the concerns of business that it requires a planning system that does not deter investment. She added: “We acted, and Wales now has some of the fastest decisions on major energy infrastructure in the UK, with almost two dozen clean energy projects approved since I became First Minister.

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“My challenge for the next government has been clear: to make Wales the fastest place in the UK to get planning permission, and if we are leading the next government, we will introduce new degree apprenticeships in planning.”

She also committed to implementing a new Welsh industrial strategy aligned with that of the UK Government. She added: “I am a First Minister who is prepared to choose, to focus and, where necessary, to say no.

“We know we can do more to help business grow much further, especially in advanced manufacturing, renewable and clean energy, digital and AI-driven industries, life sciences and the creative industries. I will personally chair a new national Jobs Council. It will bring together business, unions, the skills sector and government to drive good jobs across every part of Wales.”

Russell Greenslade, director of CBI Wales, said: “The CBI North Wales business dinner showcased the incredible businesses that are contributing to Wales’ impressive economic growth story.

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“The First Minister rightly focused on the region’s enterprising firms, our green growth opportunities, and a higher education sector that works in partnership with business to support young people into careers and close the skills gap.

“Long-term sustainable growth depends on the Welsh and UK governments continuing to work in partnership with North Wales businesses.”

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Logan International Airport TSA Wait Time Hovering Between 10 and 20 Minutes

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Boston Logan International Airport

Travelers at Boston Logan International Airport faced relatively smooth security lines Wednesday as TSA staffing held steady amid the ongoing partial government shutdown, with average wait times hovering between 10 and 20 minutes at most checkpoints despite national concerns over officer call-outs and absenteeism.

Boston Logan International Airport
Boston Logan International Airport

As of midday, third-party trackers reported average standard security waits of 11 to 15 minutes across terminals, with peaks reaching 25 to 30 minutes during morning rushes and occasional spikes to 35-40 minutes in the overnight hours. TSA PreCheck lanes generally moved faster, often under 10 minutes when open, though availability varied by terminal and time of day. Massport, the airport’s operator, continued monitoring lines closely and recommended passengers arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours for international departures.

Logan International, one of the busiest airports in the Northeast and a major hub for Delta, JetBlue and American Airlines, handles more than 40 million passengers annually across its six terminals. Terminal A primarily serves Delta and some JetBlue flights, while Terminal B hosts JetBlue and United operations. Terminals C and E handle international traffic, with Terminal E dedicated to overseas arrivals and departures.

The current stability at Logan contrasts sharply with reports of multi-hour delays at other major hubs nationwide, where TSA absenteeism has climbed due to the shutdown that began in mid-February. At Logan, more than 20 TSA officers have quit since the funding lapse started, and dozens more in New England have walked off or called out, according to union leaders. Yet local officials and travelers described operations as “so far, so good,” with lines moving efficiently even during spring break travel surges.

Massport spokesperson Jennifer Mehigan noted that the airport has avoided the worst of the national disruptions thanks to proactive staffing management and strong cooperation between TSA and local teams. However, concerns linger as the shutdown enters its sixth week and officers remain unpaid. TSA Union AFGE Local 2617 President Mike Gayzagian warned that further attrition could strain the system, though he emphasized that New England has not seen the same level of chaos as airports in Atlanta, Chicago or Houston.

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To improve the passenger experience, Massport is testing a new camera-based wait time tracking system in Terminal B that uses analytics to estimate average screening times without capturing facial images or personal details. The technology calculates line movement and will eventually display real-time estimates on the airport website, FlyLogan app and internal flight information screens. Full rollout across all terminals is expected in mid-April, providing a more reliable alternative to the federal MyTSA app, which has been unreliable during the shutdown.

CLEAR biometric lanes remain available in Terminals A and B, offering expedited entry for enrolled members. TSA PreCheck is operational across checkpoints, though not every lane is staffed simultaneously. Passengers without expedited status are advised to remove liquids, electronics and outerwear in advance to speed processing.

Peak periods at Logan typically occur between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, with Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings also busy. Recent hourly data showed overnight lulls dropping to near zero minutes in some slots, while midday averages stayed in the low teens. Spring break travel has added volume, yet lines have not reached the alarming lengths seen elsewhere.

Travelers shared mixed but mostly positive experiences on social media and local news. Many reported breezing through in under 15 minutes, while others noted 25- to 30-minute waits during busier morning hours. One passenger departing for Florida said her family cleared security in eight minutes, calling the process smoother than expected given national headlines.

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Airport officials urge flexibility. Airlines including JetBlue and Delta have issued advisories encouraging passengers to check flight status and build in extra buffer time. Some carriers have offered rebooking flexibility for those affected by any unexpected delays. Massport continues coordinating with TSA to maintain safety standards without compromising screening thoroughness.

The shutdown has highlighted vulnerabilities in federal aviation security staffing. Nationwide, call-out rates have risen, prompting discussions about deploying ICE agents or other federal personnel at major airports. At Logan, no such deployment has occurred, and union leaders said it does not appear necessary at this time, though they monitor the situation closely.

Logan’s six terminals offer amenities to ease waits, including dining options, retail shops and charging stations. United Club and Delta Sky Club lounges provide respite for eligible passengers, while family areas help traveling parents. The airport’s proximity to downtown Boston — about 3 miles from the city center via the Silver Line — makes it a convenient gateway despite occasional ground traffic.

Medical experts and travel advocates recommend strategies to minimize delays: enroll in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry if eligible, pack carry-ons efficiently, download the FlyLogan app for updates, and consider off-peak flights when possible. Passengers with disabilities or medical needs can contact TSA Cares at least 72 hours in advance for assistance.

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As the funding impasse in Washington continues, Logan’s relatively smooth operations offer a reassuring contrast. Massport emphasizes that safety remains the top priority and that staffing levels currently support normal throughput. Officials pledged to keep travelers informed through the new tracking system once fully implemented.

Looking ahead, spring break and summer travel seasons could test the system further if the shutdown persists or worsens. TSA has historically increased hiring during peak periods, but current constraints limit flexibility. Passengers are advised to check multiple sources — including airline apps, the FlyLogan app and third-party trackers — for the latest conditions.

In summary, while national TSA challenges have created anxiety for many flyers, Boston Logan International Airport has maintained manageable security wait times averaging 10 to 20 minutes on most days. With a new real-time tracking system on the horizon and continued local coordination, Logan aims to keep disruptions minimal. Travelers who plan ahead, use expedited programs and monitor updates stand the best chance of a smooth departure from one of New England’s busiest gateways.

The airport continues to operate all flights, with any delays primarily tied to individual checkpoint volumes rather than widespread shutdown effects. As negotiations continue in Washington, both Massport and TSA monitor the situation to protect the millions of passengers who pass through Logan each year.

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Opinion: Higher education, higher exhaustion

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Opinion: Higher education, higher exhaustion

Universities need to address the psychological health and safety of staff.

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From the Suez Canal to the Culture Wars: How Military Experience Shaped Adam Milstein’s Philanthropic Vision

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From the Suez Canal to the Culture Wars: How Military Experience Shaped Adam Milstein’s Philanthropic Vision

There is a particular kind of clarity that comes from nearly losing everything. For Adam Milstein, that clarity arrived in October 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, when he crossed the Suez Canal as part of Ariel Sharon’s division while Israel fought for its survival. The experience didn’t just shape his patriotism—it provided a set of analytical tools he would later apply to challenges most philanthropists never think to address: pattern recognition, capability assessment, adversary anticipation, and the discipline to act on intelligence before the consensus catches up.

Half a century later, those tools define his philanthropic methodology in ways that distinguish him from nearly every peer in American Jewish giving. Where most donors react to crises, Milstein invests in the infrastructure to detect them early. Where others scatter funds across familiar organizations, he builds networks that force-multiply philanthropic impact. Where conventional wisdom says stay in your lane, Milstein challenges antisemitism on both the political left and right with equal directness.

His January 2026 Jerusalem Post article offered a case study in this approach. Writing after Charlie Kirk’s death triggered a reckoning within the American conservative movement, Milstein argued that tolerating antisemitic voices like Nick Fuentes doesn’t broaden a political coalition—it poisons one. There is no hidden army of voters, he wrote, waiting to be activated by embracing extremists. There is instead a large bloc of persuadable Americans who refuse to tolerate hatred disguised as authenticity.

His February 2026 New York Post piece applied the same unflinching analysis to the other side of the aisle, warning that the Democratic Party faces a defining moral test over antisemitism within its ranks. He pointed to elected officials who refuse to condemn calls for violence against Western democracies and activist networks working to strip Jews of protected minority status. His argument was historical in scope: political movements that appease antisemitism don’t just lose elections—they lose their souls.

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This dual-front strategy reflects the military thinking that has guided Milstein since his IDF service. Threats rarely arrive from a single direction, and defending against one while ignoring another is a recipe for catastrophe. His foundation, established in 2000 with his wife Gila, operates accordingly—supporting over 150 organizations that span the ideological spectrum, from progressive advocacy groups to conservative policy institutes, campus monitoring operations to interfaith coalitions, media watchdogs to technology platforms that use artificial intelligence to track antisemitic content online.

The institutional architecture Milstein has constructed reflects the same forward-thinking. The Israeli-American Council, which he co-founded in 2007 and chaired from 2015 to 2019, organized a community that had lacked infrastructure connecting them to broader Jewish advocacy. The Impact Forum, launched in 2017, created a platform where philanthropists pool resources and coordinate strategy through quarterly dinners that have since expanded from Los Angeles to Dallas and Miami.

Milstein arrived in the United States in 1981 to study at USC, built a career in commercial real estate at Hager Pacific Properties, and might easily have spent his later years enjoying the fruits of that success. Instead, the same instinct that drove him across the Suez Canal—the refusal to wait for others to act when the threat is already visible—pushed him toward a second career in strategic philanthropy that has reshaped how the American Jewish community organizes, funds, and fights.

At 74, the lesson from 1973 still governs everything. Threats dismissed today become crises tomorrow. The infrastructure to respond must exist before the emergency arrives. And leadership means acting on what you see, even when the crowd hasn’t caught up.

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Slideshow: MLB menu innovation hits a grand slam

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Slideshow: MLB menu innovation hits a grand slam

New items include locally-inspired dishes and global cuisine.

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JLL CEO says growth is now uncertain in the Middle East

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JLL CEO says growth is now uncertain in the Middle East

Key Points

  • JLL has a major footprint in the Middle East, managing and leasing properties in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • CEO Christian Ulbrich said the business impacts of the Iran war depended on how long the conflict lasted.
  • “It’s a tragedy from a point that the region was on a really strong growth trajectory, and this is, at the moment at least, interrupted for the time being,” said Ulbrich.

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Italian restaurant venture Bosco has designs on more venues in Wales

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It’s first restaurant in Wales in the centre of Cardiff has been supported with debt funding from the £130m Investment Fund for Wales

Left to right Bethan Bannister, British Business Bank; Joe Cook, Bosco; John Babalola, FW Capital.

Italian restaurant venture Bosco has opened its first Welsh restaurant with plans for further venues.

Its latest venue, in the centre of Cardiff, has been supported with a £350,000 loan from the £130m Investment Fund for Wales (IFW),The first Bosco opened in Bristol in 2014, with it now operating four restaurants in the south-west of England.

With the successful launch of its Cardiff restaurant the business is looking to add further Welsh locations over the next 18-months.

Funding support for its Cardiff venue, has come from the large loans element of the British Business Bank’s IFW. It is managed by Development Bank of Wales, subsidiary business FW Capital. Bosco has deployed the funding to refit premises on High Street, as well as providing working capital. The loan also unlocked a further seven-figure co-investment from private investors

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READ MORE: The economic impact of Welsh rugby is huge and it needs to be cherishedREAD MORE: First Minister commits to further empower the Development Bank of Wales but rules out a new WDA

Joe Cook, managing director at Bosco, said: “The new restaurant at Cardiff has already exceeded our expectations. That part of the city has an impressive buzz and busy atmosphere, and we’ve been welcomed with open arms.

“It’s always been our intention to grow as a business, and this loan allowed us to put our stamp on the new site, and refit it at scale in line with our brand. Thanks to the success of the Cardiff restaurant, we’re know confident in what we can accomplish in Wales, and certainly want to grow further in Wales in the next year-and-a-half.”

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John Babalola, investment executive at FW Capital, said: “Bosco have a fantastic brand. Their expansion to one of Cardiff’s most popular areas for bars and restaurants was an obvious next step for them. We’re glad that our support has helped them to get the Cardiff restaurant set up at speed, and it’s good to see that it’s already in high demand.”

Bethan Bannister, senior investment manager, nations and regions investment funds at the British Business Bank, said: “We’re pleased to see the Investment Fund for Wales supporting Bosco, bringing a popular brand to Cardiff. This investment highlights how the fund can provide the right finance at the right time to help ambitious businesses expand into new markets, create jobs and contribute to the vibrancy of our towns and city centres.”

The large debt element of the IFW can makes loans from £100,000 to £2m.

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U.S. space stocks soar on accelerated SpaceX IPO

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U.S. space stocks soar on accelerated SpaceX IPO

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Virtus Ceredex Large-Cap Value Equity Fund Q4 2025 Commentary (STVTX)

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Virtus Ceredex Large-Cap Value Equity Fund Q4 2025 Commentary (STVTX)

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Waste Connections stock hits 52-week low at $155.57

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Waste Connections stock hits 52-week low at $155.57

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U.S. Budget Deficit Pressures Mount As War Spending Surges

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U.S. Budget Deficit Pressures Mount As War Spending Surges

U.S. Budget Deficit Pressures Mount As War Spending Surges

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