SƠN LA — The construction of an agricultural product processing plant using Korea-designed modern technology, commenced in the northern mountainous province of Sơn La on Saturday. 

Covering an area of over 4ha in Vân Hồ District, the US$7.5 million factory is jointly invested in by IC Food Corporation of the Republic of Korea, Stevia Corp of the United States and SC Agro Food of Vietnam. 
The first phase of the factory is scheduled to begin operation in August 2018, with a capacity of 1,700 tonnes of products a year, while the second phase, with a capacity of 3,400 tonnes a year, will be completed five months later. 
It will become a processing plant for various kinds of farm produce, which will be exported. Some 100 vegetable co-operatives will cooperate with the factory. 
Speaking at the ceremony, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Cầm Ngọc Minh said this is the fifth plant, among six of its kind, to be constructed in the locality, adding that this reflects the local authority’s right orientation in attracting investment in agricultural development. 
Sơn La boasts over 41,000ha of fruit trees, 6,000 of which used the advanced technique. As many as 47 chains of production, supply and consumption have been formed so far in the locality. 
Many areas of high quality vegetables and fruits have also taken shape in the province, with a total yield of 60,000 tonnes a year, satisfying the material demand of processing plants. — VNS