US health care company Wyeth will invest 2 billion yuan (about 280 million U.S. dollars) in the eastern province of Jiangsu to establish a nutritional products manufacturing facility, the company said.

The new plant, which will mainly produce infant milk powder and other nutritional products, would be one of the world's largest nutritional product factories when completed.

"The investment demonstrates Wyeth's commitment to pediatric nutrition," chairman of the board Robert Essner said. He added that the company had been attracted by China's surging demand for nutritional products.

The new plant was expected to open in 2010. It would employ about 550 workers and its output would mainly be sold domestically.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2008)