One of the world's largest pulse and pasta processors has announced plans to build a $50 million pasta processing plant in Saskatchewan.

Regina-based Alliance Grain Traders already supplies its Arbella brand of pasta to 61 countries from its plant in Turkey.

"Now we're going to do it right in the heart of durum country in Saskatchewan," says President and CEO Murad Al-Katib. "It will have 75 thousand tonne capacity. We'll be doing all our own semolina production for our pasta operation. So durum wheat going in one end and retail packaged pasta out the other."

The plant is expected to create 60 full-time jobs.

Al-Katib says the federal government's plan to end the Canadian Wheat Board's single desk was a factor in their decision to build a plant in western Canada.

"A direct connection with our farmers and our producers is an essential element of our business model. We need continuity of our supply. We need the right qualities and we need to have regional production contracting programs. The legislative changes that are going ahead, for us, opens up our ability to buy from the same producer lentils, chickpeas, peas, and also his durum rotation."

Alliance, through its subsidiary SaskCan Pulse Trading, owns SaskCan Parent (formerly Parent Seeds), based in St. Joseph.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall were all in attendance for the announcement to emphasize the value-added opportunities that they believe will be created with the end of the CWB's monopoly.