The mainland plans to invest up to 200 billion yuan (about HK$186.18 billion) over the next few years to re-equip its food and packaging industries, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting yesterday's People's Daily.
It said Beijing also approved up to 100 billion yuan for the ongoing 'vegetable basket' project, which aims to increase the supply of non-staple foods to urban centres.
The mainland's packaging industry grew by an average annual rate of 29 per cent between 1991 and 1995.
Recent statistics showed more than 4,000 packaging firms handled about 3,000 types of products in 40 categories. The sector employs more than 500,000 workers.
China's packaging industry generates annual losses of about 14 billion yuan because 20 per cent of related enterprises operate with obsolete technology.