premises located at the shophouses at Mukah New Township.
MUKAH: Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek was in Mukah here last Monday to visit the local Edible Bird Nest (EBN) Processing Mill, The Blue Sky Bird Nest Sdn Bhd (BSBN). The minister’s visit was a special recognition of the government towards this money spinning industry in Mukah and State in general.
The company is the first of its kind here and is the only Bumiputera Company in Malaysia to have obtained the export permit from the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA). Located near the bus terminal at the new township, BSBN was established in 2011. It started from swiflet ranching in 2005.
The processing mill was established after various studies and researches were carried out for several years on how to effectively lure the swiftlets into bird house. The company then decided to expand its venture into the processing factory by exploring on how to clean and process the raw bird nest. With over ten years of experience, BSBN is now among the few companies in the country able to handle and process the raw material until the finish product such as forming, harvesting, collecting, processing and even exporting the product.
BSBN is said to be in compliance with the procedures as required by the relevant authority, including monitoring each step of production from the raw bird nest, picking, screening, sorting, picking of feather, packaging and transporting to ensure quality. BSBN Managing Di rector, Charles Pieng is also President of Mukah Bird Nest Association (2015 to 2018).
The company exports up to 600kg per year to China. Currently, it has over 30 local worker s and i s expected t o increase to 70 following the extension of its plant this year. With all the required certifications, including the Halal Certificate, BSBN is now targeting Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia, besides China. Accompanying Ahmad Shabery dur ing the visit were Tellian Assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo and senior officers from the ministry.
