A Taiwan maritime transportation firm signed a contract with a local farm Tuesday to invest in an agricultural project in China's southernmost province of Hainan.

 

According to the agreement, Chinese Maritime Transport (CMT) will introduce selected crop seeds, planting technologies and agricultural experts from Taiwan to the Bincunshan farm which is run by returned overseas Chinese.

 

The project will cover 2,133 hectares of cropland in the farm located in the east of the Hainan island, including a 800-hectare sight-seeing farm to be built during the first phase of construction to exhibit Taiwan breeds of flowers and fruits.

 

Upon completion, the project will become the largest farming area that Taiwan companies have ever invested in the Chinese mainland.

 

John Y. K. Peng, chairman of the Taipei-headquartered firm, told Xinhua that although agriculture was not a specialty of CMT, the company's main business logistic and transportation service will help the farm establish a complete producing and sales chain.

 

CMT and its mainland partner have applied their cooperation to the government of Hainan Province for approval, expecting the start of the business in three months, Peng added.

 

Founded in Shanghai in 1946 by Mr. C. Y. Tung, CMT has become a major world-wide transport and travel service provider.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2006)