17/07/2013

€2.4m Awarded In Grant Aid To 25 Seafood Processing Firms

Simon Coveney, T.D, The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced the award of €2.4 million in grant aid to 25 seafood processing companies under the 2013 Seafood Processing Business Investment Scheme.

Taken in conjunction with private sector investment the total investment will be over €8 million in 2013.

Speaking at the announcement of the investments, Minister Coveney said: "Processing is a high growth area in Ireland’s seafood sector and has successfully targeted new business opportunities in markets like China, Russia and Africa. Overall exports were valued at €517m in 2012, an increase of 20% on 2012. This €8 million investment by the industry represents a very significant funding commitment by processing companies and Government to the seafood sector and underpins the confidence of new joint venture partnerships which were significant contributors to the increase in the value of Irish seafood exports in 2012."

The 25 companies receiving grant aid are from seven coastal counties across the country, namely Kerry, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Wexford, Mayo and Donegal.

The Minister said: "The geographic spread of the companies receiving the grant aid is testament to the success of the Seafood Processing Business Investment Scheme and the innovative and creative developments happening in seafood generally."

The Minister made the announcement of the new investments at the launch of BIM's new strategy for the seafood sector 2013 – 2017.

(CD/MH)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

26 November 2001
Minister consults on open-ended investment companies
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has pledged a commitment from his department to providing a modern financial services regulatory framework in Northern Ireland relevant to the needs of local investment firms and investors.
07 July 2010
NI Planning Service Processing Times Improving
Average processing times have fallen for all types of planning applications processed in Northern Ireland over the past year, a new independent report has revealed.
29 July 2016
NI Food And Drinks Sector Continues To Grow
New figures from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) have highlighted the continued growth of the local food and drinks processing sector.
31 July 2015
Report Published On NI Food And Drink Sector
Sales of food and drink in Northern Ireland are continuing to rise according to a new report by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Minister Michelle O'Neill welcomed the publication of the 'Size and Performance of the NI Food and Drinks Processing Sector, Subsector Statistics'.
21 May 2013
Call For Effort To Promote Investment Opportunities In West Belfast
SDLP Councillor Tim Attwood has said there must be a concerted effort to promote investment opportunities in West Belfast. Figures revealed in an Assembly Question asked by SDLP MLA Conall McDevitt demonstrate that West Belfast was given £4.