July 19, 2006

Smithfield expands in Romania

US pork-processing giant Smithfield is planning an upgrade to its Romanian operation that would create 811 jobs at its Romanian operation.

The company would invest more than US $75 million in 2006 to upgrade Comtim, its pork processing complex in Timisoara, Romania.

Smithfield first entered the Romanian market by buying Comtim in 2004.

The company plans to invest more than US$850 million in Romania in coming years. So far, US$ 250 million had been committed.

In January this year, the company said all profits from its Romanian operations over the next 10 years would be reinvested in the country.

Smithfield intends to have 1,800 employees in the Romanian operation by 2011. The improved plant would process 4 million pigs annually.

Smithfield aims to turn Romania from a pork importer into a major pork exporter.