The committee was set up to strengthen the association’s cooperation with the country’s bird’s nest end-product manufacturers in meeting consumer demand.
It will also invest in consumer education so that the public will have a better understanding of the nutritional values of such products.
Deputy general-secretary of CNFIA, Xu Jian, said that the committee “sought to satisfy the nutritional demands of the Chinese population and seize opportunities beneficial to the development of the bird’s nest industry.”
He added that till date, 24 committees have been set up for different specialty foods and they have made great contributions to the industries’ development.
These committees oversee foods such as frozen foods, bread, potatoes, and nuts.
Speedy growth
China’s bird nest industry had seen “speedy growth” in the past five years, according to Wang Qiang, the chairman of the newly formed committee.
Nonetheless, he acknowledged that there were also challenges faced, and therefore a need for a professional organisation to provide support and advice.
According to the latest statistics published by China Chamber of Commerce of Medicines and Health Products Importers and Exporters (CCCMHPIE) in August 2019, China had imported 105.2 tonnes of dried bird’s nest last year, which was a steady increase from 81.4 tonnes from 2017 and 37.1 tonnes in 2016.
China’s top three bird’s nest importers are Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, which imported 70.6 tonnes, 33.3 tonnes, and 1.3 tonnes of dried bird’s nest respectively.
The number of Chinese bird’s nest importers also increased from 29 to 56 last year.
Malaysia and Indonesia suppliers
Malaysia and Indonesia are two of the major bird’s nest supplying countries in the world.
At the summit, the consulate general of Malaysia in Shanghai, Syed Mohamad Faicus Shaik Ismail pointed out that Malaysia, being the second major exporter of bird’s nest, could export 60 tonnes of clean bird’s nest to China each year.
He said that the newly formed committee would help Malaysia and China establish friendlier ties and bring about more efficient cooperation.
Core consumers
Citing data from Tmall, CCCMHPIE pointed out in China, consumers of bird’s nest are usually people in their 20s to mid-30s.
About 60% of China’s entire bird’s nest consumers came from this age group.
The CCCMPHIE explained that this was because the younger consumers have a higher awareness towards early ageing signs.