China's largest pig breeding base will be set up in central China's Hubei Province, the Hubei Daily reported.

The project, named "Project 5113", is a major cooperation deal between China Oil and Food Corporation (COFCO), the country's largest oil and food importer and exporter, and the Hubei provincial government.

With an investment of 9.7 billion yuan, or 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, the COFCO plans to build a pig breeding base with 500,000 breeder pigs. When completed, the base will be capable of providing and processing 10 million pigs each year.

COFCO says it will cooperate with its foreign counterparts and introduce international expertise in managing the base. The base will have subdivisions in charge of breeding, disease control and pork food research & development. 

The project will relate to 30 counties and cities in the province and the provincial government has pledged to assist COFCO.

When fully functional, the pig breeding base is expected to boast an annual sale volume of 10 billion yuan, or 1.35 billion U.S. dollars, making it the largest pig breeding base in China. 

 (CRI December 17, 2007)