‘Big opportunity for our rambutans to be marketed internationally’

LANGKAWI: There is a big opportunity for Malaysian rambutans to be marketed internationally following demand from a number of countries, said Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) Senior Director (International Markets), Datuk Nazipah Jamaludin.

She said efforts at increasing the production of quality rambutans needs to be continued to fullfil demand from countries such as Singapore, China, those in Europe and the Middle East.

“We exported 1,900 metric tonnes of rambutans worth RM3 million last year to the said countries,” she told the media, after launching the FAMA Rambutan Kiosk at the Oriental Village Langkawi Skycab here yesterday.

She said Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are rambutan producer countries with the highest global market demand.

“Based on feedback, Malaysian rambutans are of high quality. Kedah is among the states in the country producing rambutans for the international market,” she added. Nazipah said FAMA also plans to increase the purchase of rambutans planted in Langkawi from 40 per cent at present to 50 per cent in the near future. FAMA will continue to assist in promoting the fruit produced on the island as, ‘Langkawi Grown Rambutan’ , among overseas tourists, in cooperation with the Langkawi Development Authority and other agencies.” — Bernama