M'sian durian, a phenomenon in China

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian durian, especially 'Musang King' has received overwhelming response in China when over 150,000 people visited the Malaysian Durian Festival 2017 (MDF2017) in Nanning, recently to sample the Malaysian durian.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said even though the exports of the 'king of fruits' to China was still low, it had a big potential and could become the country's new source of wealth.
"The holding of the durian festival in Nanning recently attracted over 150,000 visitors who came solely to taste our durian and it is considered a phenomenon.
"However the exports of durian to China is still low with export to China in 2015 at around RM23 million compared to RM18 million last year, which is low compared to the total exports volume of RM74 million," he said during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.
He was replying to a question from Datuk Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam) on the current status of durian exports to China and the impact on the local durian farmers and industry.
The organising of the festival is a proactive incentive and push factor to accelerate market access approval to China.
"We are working on getting approval from the Chinese authorities to export frozen whole durian due to the growing demand in that country," he said.
Ahmad Shabery said his ministry was confident that the issue could be resolved and the volume of durian exported would increase in the future.
He said durian exports to overseas market should not be viewed as something negative as it could increase the income of entrepreneurs besides generating various types of jobs. — Bernama