Business


Seamark jobs joy


17/12/2004

PLANS for the largest Thai restaurant in Europe have been unveiled by the UK's leading seafood processor - Ahmed Iqbal.
The restaurant - to be named Chim Chim - is to be built by Manchester-based Mr Iqbal, joint owner, with his brother, of the Seamark seafood company.
The 550-seat venue, located near the east Manchester Sportcity development, is part of a £10 million project by Seamark.
The restaurant will have a large bar and entertainment room as well 300 parking spaces.
Top chefs will be brought in from Thailand to man the kitchen.
The development, which has attracted £2 million funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), is on a 6.25-acre site bounded by Alan Turing Way, Lord North Street, Clifton Street and former Wimborne Street in Miles Platting.
It will include a new plant for processing seafood and poultry. Over 180 new jobs will be created and another 38 preserved.Chairman and managing director of Seamark, Mr Iqbal said: "We are the first local developer to bring a restaurant venture into the east Manchester regeneration area, and we are delighted to have received such good assistance from many friends, including Manchester City Council, NWDA and many other commercial organisations too numerous to mention.
"A restaurant is greatly needed in the area. When I have visitors we always end up driving to the other end of the city for a nice meal.
"With so much regeneration work going on in east Manchester, more people want to move into the area and tourism is also increasing so I felt the time was right for this development."
Mr Iqbal added: "I'm a big fan of Thai food, I have a factory in Thailand and great connections with the country."
Chief Executive of NWDA, Steven Broomhead said: "The continued development of east Manchester is a high priority for us and we are committed to driving forward the area's regeneration as well as helping companies improve their competitiveness and productivity.
"That is why we are pleased to provide funding for Seamark's expansion which will provide a significant boost to the economy as well as contributing to the vibrancy of the local community."


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