Wednesday Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden announced that two Chinese companies that specialize in LED-lighting had agreed to jointly build a new manufacturing and distribution plant in Baton Rouge to serve North America.

“This has been a great day for Baton Rouge,” Holden said.

Pepnice Corp. is the largest LED lighting manufacturer in the world, and Liantronics Co. Ltd. is the largest LED billboard manufacturer in the world, according to Eugene Ji, the mayor’s liaison to China. Executives from both companies announced plans for the new Baton Rouge plant after meeting with representatives from Lamar Advertising Company.

Ji said the new plant will be developed in phases, and expects to employ 100 to 300 people.

Ji said representatives from the two Chinese companies plan to meet with state officials and Southern University officials Thursday about the prospects of LED lighting.

“LED is the future, because a 6-watt LED light will replace a 100-watt traditional light, has no mercury, is environmentally friendly, and lasts for 10 years,” said Ji, who acted as Holden’s interpreter during his trip to China last year.

This is the fourth Chinese contingent to visit Baton Rouge in response to Mayor Holden’s visit to China last April. One Chinese group from Huiheng Medical Inc. announced during a visit in October that it plans to build a manufacturing plant in Baton Rouge to produce cutting-edge equipment in the fight against cancer.