ST JOHN’S, Antigua – A United States-based company has agreed to invest in a poultry farm here – a move expected to create much needed jobs, minister responsible for the economy, Harold Lovell said.

He told supporters at a recent rally of the United Progressive Party that for the past four months, the Antigua & Barbuda Investment Authority has been in discussion with “one of the largest poultry producers in America.”

The minister said although talks were in the preliminary stages, construction was expected to begin by the end of 2012, “of the largest poultry farm anywhere in the Caribbean.”

“This will be designed for export,” Lovell said, adding, “Antiguans eat more chicken than anybody else.

“With this poultry farm, we will begin to produce our own chicken and we will be able to export for the Caribbean,” he said.

Lovell told supporters that this latest project demonstrated government’s commitment to override the economic difficulties and provide jobs for citizens.

“If we are to provide jobs for our people, we need to make sure that we have the investment. I can tell you that we are doing everything to move investments locally forward and to bring foreign investments to this country,” he said.

The California headquartered Zacky Farms LLC is a food production company incorporated in 1955. According to the company’s website, it currently employs 1500 people in the Los Angeles area.