Co-Op Islami, a UAE-based producer of halal frozen foods, is discussing with representatives from the Ethiopian Government opportunities to import meat for processing.

Already, Ethiopia supplies about Dh5 million worth of meat - mainly goats and lamb - to the UAE each year.

But the Ethiopian Government is looking for new business opportunities and partnerships. The government plans to expand its exports of live meat to the region.

It is also aims to build up a potential business relationship between the Ethiopian Livestock Authority and Co-Op Islami.

"Ethiopia is the tenth largest meat producer in the world, especially in lamb and goat meat offering good quality meat at good prices," said Getachew Teklemedhin, Ethiopia's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.

"Co-Op Islami is one of the most important and leading companies in the meat industry in the UAE and we are hoping to establish a good relationship between our two organisations."

Saleh Abdullah Lootah, assistant general manager of operations, Co-Op Islami, said: "We have been very encouraged in our discussions with the Ethiopian Livestock Marketing Authority and hope that we will be able to build a mutually prosperous business partnership in the future".

Co-Op Islami was set up by the Dubai Cooperative Society in 1981 to provide genuine halal meat products according to Islamic methods.

The company, which says it enjoys a sizeable share of the market in the Gulf, has a plant at Jebel Ali Free Zone.