Dubai Maritime City said it has entered into a partnership agreement with SalMar ASA, a major Norwegian salmon farming company.

The Dubai Cooperative Society for Fishermen, a Dubai government entity is supporting the new partnership. The ambitious venture a ‘first-of-its-kind’ in Dubai proposes to build a state-of-the-art 'salmon house' in the emirate.

Commenting on the move, Khamis Juma Buamim, the chairman of Drydocks World & Maritime World, said this was a novel initiative and would encourage the growth of similar such ventures that would be highly beneficial for the local fishing community.

"We are working closely with the fishermen society on more such ventures that would alleviate the conditions of local fishermen and bring them into the commercial mainstream so that they can compete on a global scale,” he stated.

Gunnar Foss, the chairman of Arctic Marine Industries AS, the company that will execute and manage the ambitious partnership, said:"This will be the first in the region - and we hope over time - leading salmon specialist in the region. Over time we will be able to supply a full portfolio of salmon products in a range of markets reachable from UAE."

Major General/Mohammed Saeed Mohammed Al Marri, the chairman of society's board of directors said, "The smoked salmon factory is an important qualitative leap that will pose a great addition. We believe in developing a spirit of cooperation between the fishermen to improve their economic and social conditions."

"We are delighted that SalMar, which is the second largest company in Norway, plans to set up the largest factory for smoked salmon in the region. We recognize the prominent role played by Dubai Maritime City in the project.

Norwegian SalMar said the partnership was intended to be a new step in a long-term plan to provide highest quality Norwegian salmon products to prioritized geographical growth markets.

Yngve Myhre, the CEO of SalMar ASA, said: "We are impressed by the dedication to quality and service we meet with our partners in Dubai and are particularly happy that the partnership is announced in the context of Dubai being a candidate city for World Expo 2020. "

"We are fully supporting the high industrial ambitions of the authorities of Dubai,” said .-TradeArabia News Service