Exporting Vietnam’s first batch of bird’s nest products to China through Huu Nghi International Border Gate

On the afternoon of November 16, at Huu Nghi International Border Gate (Lang Son province), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in coordination with the People’s Committee of Lang Son province held a ceremony to announce the export of Vietnam’s first batch of bird’s nest products to the Chinese market according to the Protocol signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the General Administration of Customs of China on November 9, 2022.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien speaks at the announcement ceremony

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien and  Vice Chairman of Lang Son Provincial People’s Committee Luong Trong Quynh co-chaired the announcement ceremony.

Attending the announcement ceremony were also representatives of unit leaders from central ministries and sectors; leaders of a number of related departments and sectors of Lang Son province; Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing (China); Leaders of a number of provinces and cities have establishments raising bird’s nests and processing bird’s nests for export; Representatives of leaders of relevant associations and unions at the Central level; Vietnamese bird’s nest processing businesses for export; Representative of the General Department of Customs of China;…

According to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at the announcement ceremony, after more than 5 years, with the drastic direction of the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the efforts of ministries, sectors and related units, as well as the determination of businesses…

On November 9, 2022, The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the General Department of Customs of China have signed a Protocol on quarantine, inspection and veterinary hygiene requirements for Vietnamese bird’s nest products exported to China. China’s official permission to import bird ‘s nest products from Vietnam will create many opportunities for the bird ‘s nest farming industry and the production and processing of bird’s nests in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, bird nest farming for commercial purposes is a new production activity that has appeared since 2004 in some Southern provinces (Vietnam). In the past 10 years, this profession has developed rapidly with many different types and scales. Many provinces and cities have natural advantages to develop bird nest farming, creating jobs and significant income for people. Currently, the whole country has 42/63 provinces and cities that raise bird’s nests with over 22,000 bird’s nest houses. Vietnam’s bird’s nest output is about 150 tons, worth over 600 million USD.

Delegates attend the announcement ceremony

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien emphasized: China is a large market and it is also the world’s largest consumer market for bird’s nest products, with a demand of more than 300 tons/year, accounting for about 80% of the global market share. With such great demand, while China’s bird’s nest exploitation output is still limited, so every year, China imports large quantities of bird’s nests from other countries. Specialized bird’s nest data in China shows that official bird’s nest imports into China in 2020 will be 220 tons, in 2021 it will be more than 300 tons and in 2022 it will be 452 tons. From that reality, it shows that Vietnam’s bird’s nest industry has more opportunities for sustainable development after the Protocol on exporting bird’s nests to China was signed.

AVANEST Vietnam Nutrition Joint Stock Company signed a contract to provide bird’s nest products with Chinese partners at the announcement ceremony.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development pointed out: China’s agreement to import Vietnamese bird’s nest products is both an opportunity but also a challenge for businesses producing and processing bird’s nest products to perfect themselves and innovate technology to meet the requirements of the import market. Therefore, localities with establishments that raise bird nests and process bird nests for export must focus on measures to monitor disease safety and food safety at businesses registered to export bird’s nest  products; businesses producing and processing bird’s nest products pay special attention to ensuring veterinary hygiene and food safety conditions according to Chinese standards. Thereby, they contribute to ensuring favorable export activities of bird’s nest products; businesses and swiftlet-raising households strengthen linkages, investments, and development of swiftlet flocks; strengthen the application of new technology, study, research to be able to produce a variety of bird’s nest products to meet the needs of the domestic market as well as exploit the potential and opportunities of the Chinese market that the Protocol has opened up.

Delegates perform a ribbon-cutting ceremony to export the first batch of Vietnamese bird’s nest products to China through Huu Nghi International Border Gate\

At the announcement ceremony, AVANEST Vietnam Nutrition Joint Stock Company – the first business qualified to export 2 groups of bird’s nest products (including: refined bird’s nest and pre-cooked bird’s nest) has carried out procedures to export the first batch of bird’s nest products to the Chinese market through Huu Nghi International Border Gate.