VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A worker demonstrates a swallow's nest product meant for export to China. (ANTARA Jatim/Hanif Nashrullah)

Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo has said the government will support the expansion of the export market for swallow's nests to the US and Europe.

"So far, we have dominated the Chinese market for swallow's nests and we need to encourage (the expansion of the market) to the American and European continents," he said while visiting swallow's nest producer PT Surya Aviesta on Kertajaya Indah Timur Street in Surabaya on Friday evening.

Swallow's nest is a much sought-after commodity in the world, he noted.

Therefore, he said he took the chance to visit PT Surya Aviesta, known as one of the largest swallow's nest producers in Indonesia, on the sidelines of his working visit to East Java.The minister assured that the government is ready to fully support PT Surya Aviesta and other swallow's nest producers in the country to expand their businesses on a larger scale to cater to demand from countries other than China.

"For example, PT Surya Aviesta accommodates swallow's nests from Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. We will fully support it to (allow it to) continue to grow. They have dominated the Chinese market. The American and European markets are also open to this product," he said.

PT Surya Aviesta is a labor-intensive company, he pointed out.

"Therefore, by expanding the export market, more and more people could be employed at the company," he said//ANT