Masan Group held a groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday for its meat processing complex in the Dong Van 4 Industrial Park, Kim Bang district, the northern province of Ha Nam.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong welcomed the large agricultural project, affirming that it will contribute to the development of livestock.

He requested the locality to assist the group’s project, while developing a safe material zone for the project and addressing pollution caused by the livestock sector.

The minister also urged the Masan Group to focus its resources to assure that the project will be completed on schedule, as well as ensure material supplies, processing methods and help to expand consumer markets.

According to Nguyen Dang Quang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Masan Group, the complex will cost over VND1 trillion (US$44 million) and be built on 10ha. It will have an annual capacity to process 140,000 tonnes of pork.

The plant will use Danish technology and operate in line with the standards of the US Food and Drugs Administration.

Nguyen Xuan Dong, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the project was expected to boost the livestock sector of Ha Nam and surrounding localities, thus contributing to ending small-scale slaughtering and ensuring food safety.

Ha Nam currently has 720,000 pigs. A plan has been set for pig farming in 30 communes, hoping to supply 500,000 pigs per year for the processing plant by 2025.– VNS