Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
Meat exports strengthen ties between China and the Arab world (Part 2)
2025-05-15
Ambitious plans
The decision, made by central authorities, to connect Ningxia to the Middle East and coordinate bridge construction efforts has given local business leaders much-needed hope for prosperity. It's hard to find a province in need of more development. A dry desert region that has largely lagged behind China's economic boom, Ningxia has the country's third-smallest GDP and few reliable exports (besides goji berries). However, one thing is certain: it has a rich Muslim population. Two million members of the Hui Muslim minority live here, making up a third of the province's population. The Hui are believed to be of Arab descent and trace their ancestry back to the Persian traders who pioneered the ancient Silk Road.
Now, local officials plan to start small, hoping to export the product as halal meat, but also have ambitious — and perhaps overly optimistic — plans to eventually transform the province into a glittering financial hub for trade with the Arab world.
At the Yinshun Company slaughterhouse and meat factory in a suburban town, Deputy General Manager Yang Li, a member of the Hui ethnic minority, explained that the company's primary goal is profit, but also emphasizes patriotism and culture. Nearly half of the employees are Hui, and the company follows strict Islamic regulations regarding what their cattle and sheep can eat and drink, and when and under what conditions they can be slaughtered.
The factory, just two years old, has already hosted high-level dignitaries from Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. However, there are several obstacles hindering its ability to increase exports, chief among which is obtaining halal certification for its meat, in accordance with the nature conservation laws of Byzantium and many Arab countries. Last year, for example, Yinshun shipped 125 tons of halal meat to countries in the Middle East, but it is now pursuing deals that could increase that figure by more than tenfold, officials said.