Published on: Sunday, November 09, 2008 |
Kota Kinabalu: Bird's nest can fetch between RM4,000 and RM18,000 per kilogramme in the market, said Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin.
And with only 20 to 30 per cent of the global requirement met so far, he said, this shows there is a great potential for those interested to venture into this business.
"There is a huge demand for bird's nest from all over the world like China, Japan, America and Europe, due to its very nutritious content," he said.
Speaking at the opening of the Swiftlet Breeding Course organised jointly by Gain Forlife Sdn Bhd and Global Excellent Marketing Sdn Bhd (G.E.M), Yahya said the bird's nest industry is a booming industry which has shown an obvious growth of late.
Confident of its big potential since it promises much higher returns than the plantation industry including oil palm, he said it could also be promoted as a one-district-one-product venture.
He said those venturing into the bird's nest business will only have to fork out money once as capital but have the potential to reap the profit forever.
Government assistance like the Tekun Scheme are always available to assist those keen to venture into such business, he said, adding a bird's nest entrepreneur only needs a licence for breeding and collecting the nest.
"Breeding swiftlet and collecting bird's nest is an activity which requires a licence and therefore anyone wanting to venture into this should comply with all the law requirements as enforced by the Government and the local government," he said.
G.E.M Managing Director Haji Abdul Aziz Mohammad Rejab, meanwhile, urged those who may not have enough financial capability to venture into the business to do it in partnership with others.
