MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

P Arenas abattoir geared for Arab clients looks to Mecca

Next January 17 Chilean Minister of Agriculture Alvaro Rojas will inaugurate an abattoir for sheep in Punta Arenas which has been specifically conditioned for Islamic markets. The slaughtering space looks towards Mecca the holiest of all Islamic cities which is an advantage to for selling to Arab countries.

The 12 million US dollars project, with state of the art equipment and latest technology, has a covered area of 6.000 square meters in grounds of 22.000 square meters and can slaughter 1.200 sheep per day. The undertaking belongs to the Marin family, long established in Magallanes Region and both Marcela and Mario Marin are confident that with the infrastructure of the abattoir "we will have access to all world markets, including those with the most demanding conditions". Currently the abattoir is exporting some small shipments of lamb to United States and the European Union but most of the production is geared to the domestic market in Santiago where it's sold as organic. However Production manager Mario Marin admits that "sheep farming is limited in Chile and we could probable sell our entire production to an only client, but we must improve the quality of the cuts with added value". Marcela Marin, administration manager believes it's vital to take advantage of all alternatives, particularly the Muslim world with all its potential. "That is why we decided to have the slaughtering plant looking towards Mecca. It should attract Arab customers", underlined Marcela.