KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) will ship 5,000 kilogrammes of frozen durian to Qinzhou in Guangxi, China in conjunction with the first Nanning Durian Festival 2017 from Nov 3 to 5, reports Bernama.
FAMA chairman Tan Sri Badruddin Amiruldin was quoted as saying the delivery of the frozen fruit was the first attempt to meet the high demand of the people there because previously the Chinese government only allowed the shipment of durian pulp.
“This time we are sending frozen Musang King durian fruit (D197), to see how the response is compared to the durian pulp. Even local fruits such as jackfruit and pineapple will be promoted at the festival.
“The export value of durian is rising, last year it was worth RM74 million and this year it rose to more than RM100 million. We are aiming that next year the export value reaches RM150 million,” he told reporters after launching the frozen durian shipping programme, here yesterday.
FAMA will be sending the frozen durian in two shipments on Oct 11 by ship from Port Klang, then by air from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang on Oct 17.
Meanwhile, jackfruit and pineapple would also be flown to China from KLIA on Oct 30 in conjunction with the festival, he said.
Badruddin said FAMA also exports durians to Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and Hong Kong as well as eyeing Canada and South Korea among the new markets to explore.
