News that the Bradford-based Mumtaz Food Group is planning to expand creating more than 200 new jobs is extremely welcome for the district.

The restaurant and ready-meal group, which also owns the Jaldi Jaldi chain of takeaways and delicatessens, has announced plans to open a new purpose-built site for its expanding food manufacturing business.

It comes just a week after visiting cabinet minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi was praising the diversity of the city as a strength in terms of future business expansion. And this move shows just how that diversity can translate into tangible economic growth for the city.

Bradford, named the Curry Capital of the UK last year, has a fantastic reputation for the quality of South Asian food on offer.

The influx of immigrants into Bradford has undoubtedly played a major part in building that reputation.

Developments like this further contribute to this status, and add new strings to the district’s bow in terms of business.

Of course, no one is suggesting that this one development will paper over the loss of manufacturing industry and the current slump hitting the retail trade.

We are still some way from seeing the back of the ongoing recession, and unemployment remains high.

However, it does show that there is confidence out there if the right business opportunity appears.

And it is a perfect example of how the city’s cultural diversity may yet prove to be powerful force in helping to drive Bradford’s economy forward as and when the recovery finally gets under way.