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AMG finalising plans to open Sandakan Bird's Nest Park

AMG International are in final discussions with a Chinese conglomerate partner to invest USD50 million (about RM160 million) to create Sandakan Bird’s Nest Economy Park (Sandakan Eco Park), which will be the world’s biggest managed agricultural centre.

Known as a fully integrated swiftlet farming investment management company, AMG International has been working closely with Sabah Swiftlet’s Nest Industry Association (SABA) since 2011 and currently owns 100 swiftlet farm houses in Sabah.

According to the Founder and Executive Chairman of AMG International, Woo Tiam Onn, the planned Sandakan Eco Park will be combined with integrated swiftlet house management, high tech processing facilities, state-of-the-art biotech R&D facilities, the Sandakan Government Regulated Inspection family and a series of leisure outlets such as a bird’s nest restaurant and exhibition tour centre.

AMG is targeting 3,000 farm units in accordance with the 10th Malaysia Plan to increase bird’s nest shipments to 30 per cent of world supply.

Woo, who made the announcement in his speech at the AMG Harvest Event which took place at Four Points Sheraton Hotel here yesterday, also said that AMG is planning to build another 200 houses with partners from China and Taiwan.

“This will be one of the most significant milestones for Sabah and Sandakan government,” he added.

Woo later shared the success of the AMG swiftlet project by announcing that a total of 5 tons of swiflet’s nest produced in Sandakan houses have been exported to China to date.

Meanwhile, SABA Chairman Datu Faisal Datu Bachtiyal, who is no stranger to Hong Kong, Singapore and China’s large-scale companies, said that SABA received increasing interest and demand from the China market on the swiftlet industry in the state.

He pointed out that with supportive government policies, business partners from Hong Kong, China and Singapore are poised to develop superb quality bird’s nest to meet the growing demand.

“By providing products with excellent quality, we can prove to the consumers that we are reliable, thus making Sabah’s bird’s nest known for its quality, especially in China,” he added.

Out of the four South East Asia bird’s nest supply countries, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, only Malaysia is classified as a ‘non bird-flu’ region.

During the event, AMG also launched their AMG brand of bird’s nest products, Shanhaiyan, which is produced by local bird’s nest and will be marketed to China.

Selangor the First State to Approve Swiftlet Licence

SHAH ALAM, 8 Nov: Selangor became the first state to approve the granting of licence for the farming and operating industry of swiftlet nests through an intensive package offer that is fair to existing farmers and operators, with effect from 1 January 2014.

Executive Councillor for Local Government, Studies and Research, Datuk Teng Chang Khim, said that implementation of the policy was decided by the State Government Council Meeting (MMKN) after holding a dialoguesession with associations and operators of the industry on 25 September.

He said that the implementation will be done through the enforcement of Rearing of Swiftlet and Manufacturing of Swiftlets’ Nest By-laws 2013 in all Local Authorities in the state of Selangor.

“In the consideration process, the state government took into account several factors including the interests and problems of operators, in addition to the interest of the public in terms of hygiene, disease control, sound pollution, negative impact on property prices as well and building a comfortable city,” he said in a press statement at his office here today.

At the same time, Teng explained several key points of the implementation of the licencing policy which needs to be observed by swiftlet farmers and operators as decided at the MMKN.

“All breeders and operators on agricultural land will be granted licence starting 1 January, 2014. Breeders and operators of existing business premises will receive licences starting form 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016, while breeders and operators on paddy fields will be given licences from 1 January 2014 to 1 December 2020.

“For breeders and operators in business premises as well as paddy fields, they will be given incentives which includes licensing fees, free quite rent and assessment for five years at the new site if they move their premises to existing farming sites within the period the licence is granted,” he said.

Chang Kim said that the granting of licence is subject to conditions provided for under the by-laws and all operators and breeders have to submit licence application no lter than 31 December this year.

“Licence application for operation in business premises and paddy fields, whether existing or new, will not be considered after 31 December this year and all applications will be submitted to the relevant local authorities.

“We hope that with the granting of this licence, breeders and operators of the swiftlet nest industry in Selangor will grow in an orderly manner, thus benefiting the economic development of the state,” he said.

Edible nest swiftlet house model in Malaysia

Edible nest swiftlet house model displayed in the Department of Veterinary Services, Livestock Industry Division, Putrajaya, Malaysia. The cost varies between 100,000 to 250,000 depending on materials, sizes and number of floor. Malaysia is well known for it high quality, established standard and safety of edible birdnest in the world.

Malaysian Best EBN

One of the best quality EBN produce and process in Malaysia. I was told this grade can fetch a very high price up to RM30,000 per kg in China retail market.

Hoping for export to China soon

We are hoping the eight processing plants that were approved by CNCA will able to export to China soon. Normally China side will issue import permit, stating the amount of EBN intended to be import and the conditions.

Malaysian birdnest now able to produce the best quality and safe product. The industry has transformed itself and should be able to export now.  At the moment I have not seen any import document even though some exporter claim that they have good network in China. I believe the future is bright for the industry and continuous improvement on product safety will able to sustain for a long time. 

EBN Product

Edible birdnest products

Bintulu, A Swiftlet City in Sarawak

Bintulu city is capable of producing 1 tonne of edible bird's nest every month. 

No News From China

Up to now, we have not received news from DVS on the China approval to export EBN products to China. Once we received the news, we will inform the industry.

Best Quality and Safe Bird's Nest Products From Sarawak

Sarawak is now able to produces the best and safest EBN products for export. Quality and safety assured right from farms to the processing plants. 

More than 100 farms were SALT certified  fand 600 RFID farms were registered to ensure good traceability and good animal husbandry practices (GAHP). 

The produces were then processes by 3 HACCP complied processing plants and 2 GMP complied plants. These processing premises were strictly monitored by both Department of Veterinary Services and Ministry of Health for to ensure regulatory compliance.

Bloomberg highlights Vietnam’s edible bird industry

The US news wire described edible nests in Vietnam as the “caviar of the East” with its wholesale price reaching up to $1,500/kilogram.

Bloomberg quote Tok Teng Sai, president of the Federation of Malaysian Bird’s Nest Merchants Association, as saying that the demand for bird’s nest, once reserved for emperors and their courts, has created a global market with annual revenue as high as $5 billion that caters to Asia’s growing wealthy consumers.

 

 

 Bloomberg highlights Vietnam’s edible bird spit industry

 

 

Vietnam is racing to catch up with Malaysia and Indonesia, the region’s top producers of the delicacy, and cash in on the demand, Tok said.

The paper reported that in Vietnam, demand for bird’s nest is spawning a cottage industry that has attracted investment from VinaCapital Group Ltd, the nation’s largest fund manager, and helping mint new millionaires. Provincial governments are also jumping in to set up bird’s nest production zones to spur jobs and exports.

In mid-2011, VinaCapital invested $7.5 million in a bird house in central Vietnam with about 100,000 birds, one of the nation’s largest, said Dang Pham Minh Loan, VinaCapital’s deputy managing director.

Vietnam’s bird’s nest industry, estimated to generate $200 million in revenue a year, is increasing as much as 25 percent annually, Loan said.

According to Bloomberg, authorities in Phan Rang-Thap Cham of central coastal Binh Thuan province are working on a plan to expand the local bird’s nest industry to 2.8 million birds by 2020. The largest bird’s nest house in the province now generates about $50,000 of bird’s nest monthly./.

 

Source:  //www.intellasia.net/

Vietnam seeks investors for edible bird’s nest industry

Posted by Arno Maierbrugger on August 20, 2013

Edible bird’s nests, made of solidified saliva of Asian swiftlets, are becoming more and more popular as the hunger for one of the most expensive foods keeps rising among Asia’s middle class.

The soaring appetite stems mainly from China, but in countries such as Vietnam bird’s nest are also experiencing rising demand.

The global market is currently estimated at as much as $5 billion, mainly catering to wealthy East Asian and US consumers. The main producers of the specialty food, Malaysia and Indonesia, are now being challenged by Vietnam which is seeking investors to boost the bird’s nest industry.

Edible nests sell for $1,000-$1,500 per kilogramme wholesale and about $2,500 per kilogramme for end-consumers in Asia. Called the "Caviar of the East", traders are now also looking for new markets such as the Gulf countries and offer not just nests, but also derived products such as cosmetics, porridge, jelly and coffee.

Indonesia produces about 70 per cent of the world’s bird’s nest, followed by Malaysia with 20 per cent, and Thailand. Vietnam through it investment firm VinaCapital Group is now aiming to set up production zones for bird’s nests together with investors. A company, Yen Viet Joijnt Stock Co, has already been founded that launched a 100,000 bird firm in central Vietnam.

Vietnam’s bird’s nest industry, estimated to generate $200 million in revenue a year, is increasing as much as 25 per cent annually, industry experts say.

In coastal Phan Rang Tham Cham city, local officials are working on expanding the province’s bird’s nest industry to 2.8 million birds by 2020. The largest bird nest house in the province nowgenerates about $50,000 of bird’s nests monthly, according to a Bloomberg report.

Edible bird’s nests, consumed in China since 400 years, are supposedly rich in nutrients, which are traditionally believed to provide health benefits such as aiding digestion, raising libido, improving the voice, alleviating asthma, improving focus and an overall benefit to the immune system. Currently, Hong Kong and the US are the largest importers of bird’s nests. For rare red nests, the price-per-kilogramme can reach up to $10,000.

The most famous use of edible birds nest is bird’s nest soup, a delicacyin Chinese cuisine. In addition, edible bird’s nests can be used as an ingredient in many other dishes, they can be cooked with rice to produce bird’s nest congee (rice porridge) or bird’s nest boiled rice, or it can be added to egg tarts and other desserts. Ready to eat bird’s nest jelly is available in jars as a commercial product. 

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Town of Swallows set to soar by Lian Cheng, reporters@theborneopost.com.

DRIVING across Sarawak, hopping from town to town, most people would have passed by Sarikei,  the Town of Swallows without having much impression of the place. But if one cared to look deeper by learning more about the town from the locals, one would know that Sarikei, though classified as a second-tier town, is enchanting with a lot to offer.

For starters, the place produces excellent pineapples and one is reminded of the fact when passing by the two big icons of the fruit, situated strategically at two different parts of the town. Sarikei pineapples are, indeed, something the Division should be proud of. They are well-known for their sweetness and crunchiness which cannot be found in other pineapple species or the same species planted elsewhere.

“Our pineapples are of the Maruritious variety which thrive on Sarikei peat soil which is inundated by saline water during high tide once or twice annually. Due to the soil type, the pineapples grown here are crispy and tasty. “There was an attempt to plant the same species elsewhere. But Sarikei pineapples grown elsewhere cannot match those (of the same species) grown here,” Sarikei Chinese community leader Pemanca Frederick Wong told thesundaypost.

Sweet-sour juicy

Apart from pineapples, Sarikei is also known for its green oranges which are sweet-sour juicy. “The green oranges here are unique. When farmers in Bintangor first moved the green orange trees into their gardens, they failed to produce fruits as good as those of Sarikei.

“Later, they discovered if they were to put some salt on the tree mounts, they were able to do so. The practice has been in use since,” Frederick explained. Pineapples and green oranges aside, if one were to stay longer and get to know the place, one would find Sarikei far from being just a simple town with no character or personality.

In fact, even its very nature of being a simple town has been something that makes it stand out among others, especially in time of economic downturn. “The people here are very thrifty. They don’t live a lavish life. They save during boom and bad times – and they are able to sail through,” he added.

The fruit basket

Sarikei has been known as The Fruit Basket of Sarawak where there is a long history of agricultural activities such as the planting of rubber, pepper, pineapples, green oranges and other seasonal crops. Even until now, the Division is still the biggest pepper exporter.As early as the 1950’s, engkabang (illipe nuts) was also one of export items to Holland. Due to intense logging, the production of engkabang has greatly decreased and now, export of this jungle produce is almost nil.

Between the 1950’s and 80’s, Sarikei was the trading centre, serving the surrounding towns of Pakan, Pantu and Bintangor from where various agricultural produce would be sent to Sarikei to be traded. Agricultural activities among the Chinese there have been on the decline as the younger generation is moving away from the town to work abroad, leaving behind elderly farmers and farm hands.

“There are now very few young farm hands around. Most prefer earning big salaries in other parts of the world such as Singapore, Papua New Guinea, South American, Solomon Islands and Africa,” Frederick noted.

However, Sarikei’s long history in agriculture still makes it strong economically although sole dependence on agricultural activities has ceased to be the main income-earner for the Division. While other traditional agricultural activities have been slowing down, small-scale oil palm planting and swiftlet farming are gaining significance in Sarikei.

The former has been taken up by the Iban community while the latter mainly by Chinese businessmen and also some of their Iban counterparts.

FOR THE BIRDS: These fortresses are meant for swiftlets, not men.

Colourful swiftlet farmhouses

Driving around Sarikei, it’s difficult to miss colourfully-painted swiftlet farmhouses that stand out from their surroundings. “The swiftlet farmhouses here are characterised by their bright colours. There are so many of them and their colours so distinctive that they have become part of Sarikei’s characteristics,” Sarikei Resident Michael Dawi Alli said.

Within the administrative Division of Sarikei, the Chinese constitute 70 per cent of the 60,000 population while the Iban and the rest 30 per cent. 

Basically, a Chinese area, the town recently regained its former reputation as the state’s trade centre through competitively priced goods, quality services and products.

“Small in population as we are, there are about eight to 10 supermarkets of various scale in Sarikei town.

“These supermarkets offer very competitive prices, attracting people from Pakan, Spaoh, Saratok, Loban, Sessang, Julau, Pusa and even as far as Beladin to do their shopping in Sarikei,” the Pemanca said.

GOLDEN ATTRACTIONS: Apart from Chinese herbs, the gold in Sarikei is cheaper than in other parts of the state.

Cheaper herbs and gold

Two very obvious examples of cheaper merchandise compared to other parts of Sarawak are Chinese herbs and gold. Sarikei has been offering very reasonably priced Chinese herbs — and its Eight Precious Herbs are famous for their modified combination which Sibu customers find more acceptable and tastier.

The Chinese, especially the Foochows, will make a special trip from Sibu to buy the herbs while those from Bintulu or Kuching will acquire some before continuing with their journey. Chinese herb business owner Ling Soo Ming, 40, believed outstation customers made the effort to come due to the better deals her shop offered.

“To have a competitive edge, we offer cheaper prices. That way, though we have a lower profit margin, we can make it up by making more sales,” said Ling who set up the business with her husband, Ling Sien Chung, 45.

Gold accessory shopowner Wong Hua Ting, 53, said Sarikei has been selling the preciouis metal at a cheaper price than Sibu and other parts of Sarawak for many years. According to Hua Ting, the gold sold in Sarikei is RM2 or RM3 per gram cheaper than in Sibu and RM5 per gram cheaper than in Kuching and Bintulu.

Wong and the Pemanca both claimed cheaper price of goods had been possible in Sarikei by cheaper rentals and lower living costs. Frederick noted: “It has been a conscious strategy businessmen came to realise after many years of trial and error.”

It is the result of more than a decade of persistence and consistency, hard work and sincerity of the Sarikei business community that has finally established the town as one that offers “cheaper but good quality” goods.

Road connectivity

Apart from the good business acumen of the residents, thriving economic activities in Sarikei have also been due to the good road connectivity, especially after the construction of two bridges. Sarikei town is surrounded on three sides by Batang Rajang, Sungei Sarikei and Sungei Nyelong. With the completion of Sarikei Bridge and Nyelong Bridge, the town is very well linked.

What is now lacking is a few bridges to link the town to Tanjung Manis, now reachable in 30 minutes by expressboat. Meanwhile, Michael Dawi said all facilities were in place for the town to be further developed into a high-income economy.

Sarikei, now the fifth largest town in Sarawak after Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Bintulu, is looking forward to the construction of the 15km-road linking it to Tanjung Manis. “When this proposed road is completed, Sarikei too will benefit from Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) and its Halal Hub where our strength lies in our food and agro-based products,” Michael said.

Proud of its tagline Sarikei Towards an Agro-polis, the Resident believes the Division has been moving in the right direction and will achieve its dream of becoming one of the most popular towns in Sarawak.

“The next step is to modernise the farming sector,” he said.

Sarikei is not far from its dream. It has been producing fresh fruits and vegetables to serve other towns such as Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. With continuous efforts to carve a distinctive identity for itself, coupled with a progressive local business community, Sarikei will emerge as one of the most popular and productive Divisions in the state.

A BARGAIN: Even the birdnests in Sarikei are cheaper than those in Sibu.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/08/25/town-of-swallows-set-to-soar/#ixzz2dL0FUgvm

Vietnam Seeks Millions for Edible Bird Spit Industry

The edible nests, shown here cleaned and soaked, are as much as 70 percent protein, one reason aristocracy has consumed the delicacy for thousands of years, according to Massimo Marcone, an associate professor of food science at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Photographer: Jerry Redfern/LightRocket via Getty Images

In Vietnam (VEGDYOY), where the average income is $151 a month, Mai Vu and husband David Nguyen routinely spend $250 on edible bird’s nest.

The couple accounts for the soaring appetite among Vietnam’s young and upwardly mobile population for one of the world’s most expensive foods, congealed saliva of Asian swiftlets. The country’s expanding middle class hungers for healthy food. Bird’s nest is believed to ward off diseases and feeds a growing demand for luxury products.

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Vietnam Seeks Millions for Edible Bird Spit 7 days ago

   

“It’s one of the most valuable products one can give to those who have everything,” said Vu, 28, who works at an international bank in Hanoi and was shopping for bird’s nest for her toddler daughter at a new, upscale mall. “You want to impress people.”

The demand for bird’s nest, once reserved for emperors and their courts, has created a global market with annual revenue as high as $5 billion that caters to Asia’s growing wealthy consumers, said Tok Teng Sai, president of the Federation of Malaysian Bird’s Nest Merchants Association. Vietnam is racing to catch up with Malaysia andIndonesia, the region’s top producers of the delicacy, and cash in on the demand.

“People have a lot of money now, especially people in China,” Tok said.

Caviar of the East

Known as the “caviar of the East,” edible nests sell for $1,000-$1,500 per kilogram wholesale and about $2,500 per kilogram retail, according to Le Danh Hoang, founder of Ho Chi Minh City-based NutriNest.

“A lot of people are making a ton of money,” said Loke Yeu Loong, group managing director of Malaysia’s Swiftlet Eco Park, which produces an array of bird’s nest-based products, from coffee to skincare, and is targeting the Middle East as a new market.

Indonesia produces about 70 percent of the world’s bird’s nest, followed by Malaysia with 20 percent, Tok said.

In Vietnam, demand for bird’s nest is spawning a cottage industry that has attracted investment from VinaCapital Group Ltd., the nation’s largest fund manager, and helping mint new millionaires. Provincial governments are also jumping in to set up bird’s nest production zones to spur jobs and exports.

Nest Porridge

In mid-2011, VinaCapital invested $7.5 million in a bird house in central Vietnam with about 100,000 birds, one of the nation’s largest, said Dang Pham Minh Loan, VinaCapital’s deputy managing director. The firm recently increased its stake to 65 percent in the company, Yen Viet Joint Stock Co., which is expanding into bird’s nest porridge with the aim of capitalizing on Vietnam’s growing health-foods market, she said.

“Chinese and Vietnamese are the top consumers of bird’s nest,” Loan, who is also chief executive officer of Yen Viet, said in an e-mail. “They have a very strong belief it can deliver a lot of health benefits, especially anti-aging and improvement to the immune system.”

The edible nests are as much as 70 percent protein, one reason aristocracy has consumed the delicacy for thousands of years, according to Massimo Marcone, an associate professor of food science at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

Some Vietnamese say bird’s nest has other powers, including keeping bodies youthful for decades.

Vietnam’s bird’s nest industry, estimated to generate $200 million in revenue a year, is increasing as much as 25 percent annually, Loan said.

Bird Millionaires

Concrete, four-story structures replicating the natural coastal cave habitat of the birds have been erected across Vietnam among paddy fields and neighborhoods to capitalize on the boon. After an initial investment of $70,000 to $500,000 to build a bird structure, and monthly costs of about $50, a successful house can earn its owners as much as $1 million annually, said Hoang, who founded a Ho Chi Minh City-based bird’s nest business as a college student in 2005 and now advises provincial governments on the industry.

Hoang’s company operates eight bird houses and 13 retail stores. He also sells material needed to set up a structure and make birds feel at home -- including swiftlet feces that’s smeared on floors and sound systems that play recordings of swiftlets chirping.

There is no guarantee that investing in a bird house will pay off, Hoang said. Many structures fail to attract birds and there is the danger disease could hit a bird house, Hoang said.

“It’s a fairly high-risk industry,” he said.

Government Support

In coastal Phan Rang Tham Cham city, officials are working on a plan to expand the province’s bird nest industry to 2.8 million birds by 2020, said Le Trong, head of the city’s economic development.

The largest bird nest house in the province now generates about $50,000 of bird’s nest monthly, he said.

In 2011, China banned edible nests from Malaysia after authorities discovered high levels of nitrate in them. Loke of the Swiftlet Eco Park attributed the problem to traders who used processes involving bird droppings and other chemicals to color the nests red, considered by many Chinese as the most nutritious.

In Malaysia, “the whole industry collapsed” as a result, Loke said. Tok expects the ban to end soon as China and Malaysia establish nitrate testing procedures.

In Vietnam, which was not affected by the ban, the bird’s nest industry is just taking off.

“The technological barrier is low,” said Hoang, who knows of one street in Ho Chi Minh City with 20 different bird’s nest brands. “Companies spring up like mushrooms.”

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: John Boudreau in Hanoi atjboudreau3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: K. Oanh Ha at oha3@bloomberg.net