The Linh Duong Co. Ltd started building the first high-tech tea processing factory in northern mountainous Lao Cai province on May 14.

The factory is one of the first three projects to be built in the three key industrial zones of Lao Cai.

The Linh Duong factory, which is estimated to cost VND19.2 billion will be equipped with a production line imported from Taiwan to have a capacity of 3-5 tonnes per day in the 2006-2008 period. Its capacity will increase to 10-20 tonnes per day in 2009 after the second phase of the construction project is completed.

The factory, expected to begin operation after six months of construction, will process about 500 tonnes of fresh tea buds per annum for local farmers. Its first products with the trademark of Linh Duong will include O Long and Tuyet Shan high-quality green tea.

Lao Cai province has been carrying out a nearly VND103 billion tea growing programme for the 2001-2010 period aimed at expanding its tea area to 4,800 ha and upgrading tea processing facilities by 2010. It plans to invest VND32 billion in building tea processing establishments.