Cambodian bird’s nests are exhibited at Koh Pich in Phnom Penh on October 24. Heng Chivoan
A senior official from the Ministry of Commerce has underlined the significance of the recent Cambodia Bird’s Nest Business Forum for its pivotal role in fostering opportunities for the growth of the nation’s edible bird’s nest industry, both on a national and international scale.
Such developments are expected to contribute positively to elevating the income levels of Cambodian citizens, thereby bolstering economic growth and overall national development.
Ministry secretary of State Samheng Bora made the remarks during the inaugural Cambodia Bird’s Nest Business Forum held in Phnom Penh on October 24.
The forum welcomed participation from traders representing countries and territories involved in importing edible bird’s nests for processing, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Taiwan. Their presence served the purpose of assessing the quality of the nation’s edible bird’s nests.
Additionally, noteworthy discussions between Cambodia and China about opening pathways for the export of edible bird’s nests to China are currently in progress, signifying potential future collaborations.
“The forum signifies a firm dedication to the advancement of the Cambodian edible bird’s nest industry. It is specifically designed to create avenues for both national and international traders and entrepreneurs, bolstering trade within the edible bird’s nest sector,” Bora said.
He said Cambodia’s edible bird’s nest industry has witnessed consistent growth, primarily attributed to the establishment of swiftlet roosts across the nation, encompassing various regions, including Phnom Penh.
“The edible bird’s nest industry provides employment opportunities through the construction of swiftlet roosts, nest cleaning, processing, transportation and various other roles within the production chain. Notably, it has played a pivotal role in elevating the living standards of households engaged in swiftlet home preservation, achieved through the sale of unprocessed raw edible bird’s nests, cleaned edible bird’s nests and their transformation into beverages and related products.
“This sector stands as a proactive contributor to the advancement of family, community and national economies,” he explained.
He also stressed the necessity for Cambodian edible bird’s nest producers, exporters and stakeholders to continuously enhance the quality of their products. This improvement is vital to increase production capacity, ensuring a stable supply and compliance with the necessary requirements and procedures for international exports.
Va Sochin, president of the Cambodian Swiftlet Nest Manufacturers and Exporters Association (CSNMEA), hailed the forum as a milestone for the nation’s edible bird’s nest industry. He credited its initiation to the members of CSNMEA, aiming to expand the industry’s reach both locally and internationally and foster connections between domestic and international traders.
“The forum aims to instil confidence in trade, offering opportunities for pertinent sectors to engage, receive support and gain from showcasing their products and services. We are also actively seeking government and stakeholder support to streamline the legal import and export processes of edible bird’s nest products,” she said.
She also mentioned that the business forum included an exhibition of edible bird’s nest and related products, an edible bird’s nest auction and a business conference connecting local and foreign companies.
Chong Chea, the economic and trade adviser at the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh, confirmed ongoing negotiations between the relevant departments of China and Cambodia to establish an agreement for the export of edible bird’s nest to the world’s second-largest economy.
“We look forward to importing high-quality Cambodian edible bird’s nest to the Chinese market. China remains Cambodia’s largest trading partner, with a range of high-quality agricultural products such as milled rice, banana, longan and coconut being exported to the country. Numerous other agricultural products have already found success in the Chinese market,” she stated.
According to a report from the CSNMEA, Cambodia presently boasts over 5,000 swiftlet roosts, growing by approximately 15 roosts annually. This rise in the establishment of white-nest swiftlet habitats has consequently raised the annual production of edible bird’s nest products, with an average of approximately 100 tonnes annually to meet market demand.
