Equal Treatment Needed for All Swiftlet Exporters from Indonesia: Association

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian Swiftlet Association (PPSWN) urged the country's Trade Ministry and the Embassy in Beijing to ensure equal treatment for trade in bird's nests in China.

The group's advisor Benny Hutapea said currently exports of swiftlet nests are dominated by 23 companies registered with the General Administration of China (GACC).

However, 20 other companies do not have formalities as registered exporters of swiftlet nests to China, even though they already registered their companies in 2018 and have gone through the audit process conducted by the GACC.

Also read: China to Import $150 Million Worth of Swallow’s Nest from Indonesia Next Year

Benny argued that if all companies were given the formalities as registered exporters, this would bring huge profits for Indonesia's foreign exchange earnings. 

"We call for the Indonesian Embassy and the Trade Ministry [to ensure] equal treatment for all exporters. Don't [let others] make into the thinking that there will be a monopoly in the export of swiftlet's nests," Benny said in a press statement on Thursday, July 15.  

He called on the government to provide assistance to the businesses in obtaining certification for swiftlet nest exports to China, especially in an effort to improve the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to PPSWN, Indonesia is listed as the largest swiftlet's nest exporter in the world. Meanwhile, China is the largest consumer of swiftlet's nest globally. Exports of Indonesian swiftlet nests to China throughout 2020 reached $413.6 million, according to PPSWN.

In April 2021, Indonesia announced that China would import swiftlet nests from Indonesia worth $1.13 billion or equivalent to 16 trillion rupiahs.

The agreement was announced after Trade Minister Muhammad Luthfi, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Tohir and Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi paid their visit to China.

(Writer: Elsa Catriana | Editor : Bambang P. Jatmiko)

Source: https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/07/15/080000226/petani-sarang-walet-minta-agar-monopoli-ekspor-sarang-burung-walet-ke-china