Ministry eyeing RM1.7b swiftlet nest exports

KUALA LUMPUR: Bird’s nests worth RM1.7 billion are expected to be exported to China by 2020 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Malaysia and the country.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Anthony Nogeh Gumbek said the MoU, which comes under the Raw Unclean Edible Bird’s Nest Protocol — a result of the One Belt and One Road initiative — is expected to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries, especially in exports of clean or non-clean raw swiftlet nests.

“The One Belt and One Road initiative outlines the five key areas, including trade and investment.

“The ministry conducts market intelligence research on competitive agro-food products like swiftlet bird’s nests and tropical fruits such as pineapple and durian,” he said at the Dewan Rakyat, here, yesterday. Bernama