World
Business leaders will be served halal meat at summit to show best of British
A GATHERING to show the best of British to world business leaders has halal meat as its main menu option.
The Prime Minister, Chancellor and Business Secretary are hosting the much-vaunted International Investment Summit tomorrow.
About 100 business leaders from the likes of Goldman Sachs, GlaxoSmithKline and Google are expected at the event at London’s Guildhall.
An information pack to invited VIPs says the catering will “showcase the best UK produce”.
It adds: “The main summit menu is halal, and no alcohol will be served during the day.”
One invited boss believes the decision to provide a halal menu is to appease guests such as Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
PIF, one of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth funds, last week bought a 40 per cent stake in Selfridges and owns Newcastle United.
Halal meat, which adheres to Islamic law, is seen as controversial with animal rights groups because animals are not stunned before slaughter.
Organisers said: “We paid close attention to any dietary requirements mentioned during the registration process.”