Latest news with #REAP
Agriland
5 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Dafm E2 Million in Outstanding Glas Payments Made in 2024
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) paid out almost €2 million in outstanding payments under the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) in 2024. GLAS was the precursor to the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) as the main agri-environment scheme under the last Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). 2022 was the last official year of the scheme; however, payments continue to be made in unresolved cases involving appeals and probate, as well as other matters which arose and prevented payment during the scheme's duration. According to the department's Annual Report for 2024, it spent just over €1.91 million on the scheme last year. This brings the total expenditure by the department for GLAS to over €1.36 billion since the start of the scheme in 2015. The department report also shows that outstanding payments continued for the Results-Based Environment Agri Pilot (REAP) scheme in 2024. This was a pilot project that operated alongside GLAS for 2021 and 2022. It was designed as a dry run for farmers, advisors and officials for the results-based approach to agri-environment payments used in ACRES. The reports states that some €120,000 in residual payments issued for REAP in 2024. Payments also continued in 2024 for the previous iteration of the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) under the last CAP, often referred to as TAMS II. Like GLASS, 2022 was the last official year of the previous TAMS programme, before the launch of TAMS III in 2023. However, payment claims for on-farm investments applied for and approved in the last TAMS can still be made, and payments still issued. €18.9 million in payments were made in respect of TAMS II in 2024, according to the department report. DAFM's report outlines the work it carried out in 2024 across various programmes. The work of the department is divided into five policy areas, referred to as 'Strategic Goals'. These are: Strategic Goal 1 - Policy and Strategy; Strategic Goal 2 - One Health One Welfare, Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health, and Animal Welfare; Strategic Goal 3 - Farm/Forestry Sector Supports and Controls; Strategic Goal 4 - Seafood Sector; Strategic Goal 5 - Corporate Development. Farm schemes and support measures come under the third of these goals, and that section of the report, which was recently laid before the Oireachtas, outlines the department's expenditure in this area in 2024. The highest amount of 2024 scheme expenditure was on the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) and the Complimentary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), with some €842 million paid in 2024.
Business Recorder
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
REAP opposes additional 2pc tax on exporters
KARACHI: Following the government's imposition of an additional 2 percent tax on exporters, Pakistani rice exporters failed to fetch expected prices in the global market, leading to a significant decline in rice exports during the fiscal year 2025. A key reason behind this has been the rapid drop in international rice prices. In this regard, Rafiq Suleman, former Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and Convener of the Rice Committee of the FPCCI, said that the government's decision to impose 2 percent tax was not appropriate. If the government had formulated policies in consultation with REAP leadership, not only could rice exports have been increased, but more foreign exchange could have been brought into the country. Rafiq Suleman stressed the need to focus on agriculture and improve crop yield. He stated that farmers must be provided with affordable pesticides and seeds so they can work properly and grow quality crops to ensure better yield. He noted that despite numerous challenges, exporters have worked hard to export rice from Pakistan—an effort he called a 'jihad' that deserves praise. He also pointed out that many issues affected rice exports this year, especially problems related to plant protection, which severely impacted exports for nearly a month. Now that the sector is trying to stabilize again, the government is not paying adequate attention. He further added that he had clearly warned that due to the 2percent tax, next year's rice exports would not reach even $3.5 billion, let alone $4 billion. Current export figures confirm this, with rice exports totalling $3.2 billion. If more pressure is placed on exporters through taxation, exports will decline further. The government must play its role by providing cheap electricity, eliminating excessive taxes, and offering as many benefits as possible to exporters to keep the wheels of the economy moving smoothly. REAP Chairman Malik Faisal and Senior Vice Chairman Javed Jelani are making strong efforts for rice exporters, but the government must also take their suggestions into account. Moreover, according to statistics, Pakistan's total rice exports in fiscal year 2025 stood at 5.8 million metric tons (MMT), reflecting a 3.7 percent decrease compared to 6 MMT in the previous fiscal year. However, the situation in terms of revenue was more disappointing. Total revenue from rice exports dropped significantly by 14.7percent, falling from $3.93 billion to $3.36 billion. This decline is primarily attributed to falling prices in the international market, especially for non-Basmati varieties, which make up over 85 percent of Pakistan's rice exports. Basmati rice exports saw a slight increase of 3percent in volume, reaching 797,000 tons. However, revenue from Basmati exports fell by 5.2percent to $832 million, compared to $877 million in FY2024. Data shows that a major reason for the decline in prices was a 9.1percent drop in average price per kilogram, from PKR 320.8/kg in FY2024 to PKR 291.6/kg in FY2025. Meanwhile, exports of other rice varieties saw a 4.7 percent drop in volume and a 17.4percent decline in value, reflecting weak demand and heavy price pressure in key international markets. In FY2025, non-Basmati rice exports generated $2.52 billion, down from $3.05 billion in FY2024. A sharp decline in rice exports was recorded in June 2025. Compared to May, exports dropped by 40.6percent, and by 37.1percent compared to June 2024. Monthly export revenue also fell to $150 million, marking a 50 percent year-on-year and 37.4 percent month-on-month decrease. In addition, in FY2025, the share of rice in Pakistan's total exports declined to 10.5percent, down from 12.8percent in the previous year. Despite the significant decline in revenue, the rice sector continues to play a key role in Pakistan's exports and foreign exchange earnings. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Redington signs Revenue Acceleration Pilot contract with Amazon Web Services
Chennai: Technology solutions provider Redington Ltd has signed a Revenue Acceleration Pilot (REAP) contract with Amazon Web Services (AWS) that allows it to extend the benefit it receives from AWS to other partners in its network. The REAP programme has been designed to help high-potential partners of Amazon Web Services Partner Network to tap into the combined technical expertise and strengths of both AWS and Redington. By leveraging shared resources, funding and strategic support, this programme empowers partners to drive impactful business outcomes for their customers. Following this collaboration, city-based Redington India in a statement said it can support and empower partners through developing customised go-to-market strategies for customer segments and providing partners with the necessary resources, technical guidance, training and marketing assistance to accelerate cloud transformation . The programme facilitates partner-led initiatives for business development, fostering growth and innovation. Commenting on the occasion, Redington Ltd Executive Vice President Sridhar S said, "At Redington, we are commited to driving cloud adoption at scale by empowering our partners with the right resources, expertise and strategic support..." "Through strategic investments in upskilling, go-to-market capabilities and cloud transformation, we are cultivating an ecosystem that enables partners to scale," he added.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bluefield eyes additional demolition phases
BLUEFIELD — Two additional phases of demolitions could be planned for Bluefield's future. The Bluefield Board of Directors voted earlier this week to proceed with phase seven of the city's demolition program, which involves the removal of four structures. But city officials also are mapping out two additional demolition phases for the future involving 55 additional structures. The phase seven project involves the demolition of four buildings at a total cost of $158,000, according to City Code Enforcement Director Mika Bargo. The city board voted unanimously Tuesday to issue a notice to proceed on the phase seven demolitions to Empire Salvage. City Manager Cecil Marson said phase seven of the demolition program will involve properties on Pulaski Street, View Avenue, Commerce Street and Giles Street. 'All we are doing now is giving them the notice to proceed and start,' Marson said. The demolition program has been funded through the Department of Environmental Protection's REAP program. Bargo said the city to date has completed 154 demolitions through the use of $2.1 million in DEP funds. 'Currently we are working on phase seven, which is four problem structures in the city at a total of $158,000,' Bargo said. 'This will be the last of the current REAP money. We do however have two more phases we are looking at.' Bargo said the proposed phase eight would involve the removal of 10 additional structures at an estimated cost of $128,500. 'We also have a phase nine that we are looking at which would probably be an estimation of around a million dollars,' she said. 'It's 45 structures, several of those large commercial structures that we would like to get down and something like that would open up some space in the city for businesses.' Bargo said the city's code enforcement office is still looking at additional properties and mapping out the future phases. The city also would need to secure additional state funding for the future demolition phases. Similar demolitions have been ongoing on the county level through the DEP REAP program. Earlier this month, a two-story building in Matoaka was torn down through the use of remaining DEP funds. Since 2023, the county has spent a $1.5 million grant clearing up blight. Another $750,000 grant was awarded to the county in January 2024 through the DEP for demolitions. Of that grant, approximately $87,000 was still remaining earlier this month. Lori Mills, the county's Dilapidated Structures Officer, said in an earlier interview that the county does intend to apply for additional DEP funds for future demolitions. 'Money-wise, this is the last one for now,' Mills said. 'But should we get additional funding, yes, there are several more that could come down.' More than 300 dilapidated structures have been removed on the county level to date. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@
New York Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Controversial tax credit to save Downtown Manhattan on verge of getting renewed: sources
The push by real estate dealmakers for Albany to renew a controversial tax-credit critical to saving Downtown Manhattan turned into a real 'cliffhanger' – but appears poised for approval, The Post has learned. The citywide Relocation Employment Assistance Program and a similar one specifically for Lower Manhattan, known as LM-REAP, provide tax credits of up to $3,000 per employee to companies that relocate from out of the city or from parts of Manhattan to designated areas in the outer boroughs or to Downtown Manhattan. Tens of thousands of jobs and the future of scores of Lower Manhattan office buildings would be at risk if the little-known REAP programs were not renewed when they expire on June 30, according to landlords and business advocates. 3 Tens of thousands of jobs and the future of scores of Lower Manhattan office buildings would be at risk if the little-known REAP programs were not renewed when they expire on June 30, according to landlords and business advocates. Christopher Sadowski The measures were left out of the state's budget plan announced in April and appeared doomed as lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly were set to escape for their summer break. But there was movement on an extension over the weekend, a knowledgeable Albany source told The Post on Monday. 'It finally got key approvals in the Assembly, and it's looking good tomorrow in the Senate, which was where the hangup was,' the source said. Michael Gianaris, the State Senate Deputy Majority Leader from Queens, among others, had argued that REAP cost the city too much in foregone taxes — up to $33 million by 2033, according to the Department of Finance — to justify the economic benefits the additional jobs would bring. 3 Michael Gianaris, the State Senate Deputy Majority Leader from Queens, had argued that REAP cost the city too much in foregone taxes to justify the economic benefits the additional jobs would bring. Hans Pennink But renewing the program 'is critical to COVID recovery, preserving affordable office space and promoting job growth in small and medium-size businesses,' argued a rep for the Alliance for Downtown. Supporters say LM-REAP costs the city a negligible $5 million a year — a pittance weighed against the tax benefits it helps generate in property and incomes taxes, although those figures are harder to quantify. REAP began in 1987 to stem an exodus of tenants to New Jersey. The Lower Manhattan plan, launched in 2003, is credited with supporting 16,000 city jobs and helping to lease hundreds of thousands of square feet of office space in a market that's had more downs than ups since 9/11. One source predicted a fresh wave of flight to New Jersey if REAP is allowed to die. 'They're actively recruiting New York businesses with programs offering up to $8,000 per job and $250,000 relocation grants. It's clear that if New York steps back, New Jersey will step in,' the source said. The REAP renewals, as well as creation of a new program called the Relocation Assistance Credit for Employees (RACE), are backed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. But fearing that the measures would be allowed to die, local congressional representatives threw their voices into the fray. 3 The REAP renewals are backed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Lev Radin/Shutterstock Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Ritchie Torres, Thomas Suozzi and Adriano Espaillat wrote to State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stweart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie that with 'record high office vacancies downtown, 'Now is not the time to end LM-REAP.' The REAP programs have also brought jobs to Dumbo, MetroTech and the Navy Yard in Brooklyn and to Long Island City in Queens. But the heat's mostly on Lower Manhattan, where more than 20% of nearly 90 million square feet of offices in the nation's second-largest commercial district stand vacant — and it might get worse. 'I believe the numbers being cited for current and future vacancies are too low, especially on Water Street,' said one Downtown executive who asked for anonymity told The Post. 'The REAP program is essential to keeping downtown competitive.'
