The meeting took place between Pim van Ballekom, vice-president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Dunbia’s top brass this week during a two-day diplomatic mission to Northern Ireland. Organised by Democratic Unionist Party MEP Diane Dodds, the idea was to give the EU bank’s financial leader a glimpse into the Irish pork industry.
At a sit-down meeting with the vice-president of the EIB, Dunbia’s Tony O’Neill expressed his hope that the EU’s bank would be able to support the growth of Dunbia.
More to be done
“It is a huge honour for Dunbia to host the vice-president of the European Investment Bank to the Pig Innovation Centre and outline developments for the NI pork industry,” said Dunbia’s deputy chief executive Tony O’Neill.
“There have been many positive developments recently. In January, Dunbia was the first company to export NI pork to India and we are currently waiting on final approval for exports to China. These developments have come about through strong collaboration between industry, government and key stakeholders. Dunbia regards the European Investment Bank as a key stakeholder and has welcomed the opportunity to sit down with Mr Van Ballekom and discuss how the EIB can support future growth.”
Van Ballekom met officials from Dunbia at the Pig Innovation Centre – a joint-venture between Dunbia and M Keys Farms established to develop commercially viable, high-welfare indoor production methods for pork.
Malcolm Keys, a well-known pork producer with Dunbia, said there had been “significant developments” in Northern Ireland’s pork industry and added there was still “much more to be done”.