Grimsby Trying To Become Europe’s Halal Meat Hub

GRIMSBY could become a halal meat hub as it builds on its fish-based status as Europe’s Food Town.  North East Lincolnshire Council, working together with the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysian Halal Penang to explore new market opportunities.

A distribution center is to be built first and with the UK’s biggest port and an ongoing project to bring forward a vital Border Inspection Post as a background to the talks.  Visits have taken place between the Humber region and Halal Penang, the Penang State Government agency of Malaysia responsible for promotion, facilitation, and development of the halal industries there.

Councillor Chris Shaw, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “The signing of this memorandum of understanding is further evidence of international interest in coming to the area. “Here, we have the space and the appetite to welcome growth that further increases our core aim of creating a stronger economy. Through the MoU, we’ll be pushing forward on ways of working with the Malaysian Government to develop opportunities to attract business from the Far East and do the best for the people that live and work in North East Lincolnshire.”

The agreement formalizes how the three parties will support each other in exploring opportunities that could provide economic benefit to both areas.

This will include Humber businesses being supported to do business with Malaysia and South East Asia and collaboration between all three parties to look at the possibilities for developing a halal industrial business park for products and services, including the promotion of R&D and technology transfer.

Dato Abdul Malik, State Minister for Religious Affairs, and chairman of Penang International Halal Hub said: “We look forward to working closely together to share our strengths, including Penang’s manufacturing sector and for the halal industries and the Humber’s food and energy sectors, with the potential of a distribution center sited in the Humber region.”

The idea for the distribution center was raised during a trade mission to Malaysia and Singapore run by the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, and Bondholders marketing organization.

Kishor Tailor, chief executive at Humber LEP, said: “The memorandum formalizes and builds on the new connections that we have made with Malaysia and allows us to continue to identify new markets and opportunities for Humber companies to export as well as explore the possibilities of inward investment opportunities.

“The region’s strong connections with Malaysia, through the university and visits between the area of Penang and the Humber, offer the chance to explore opportunities of mutual benefit.

“Our port has excellent trading routes with Europe and with significant development land close to our ports there is a chance to look at opportunities linked to new markets working with the Malaysian Government.”