Sarawak tilapia back on Singapore shelves again

KUCHING: Tilapia from Sarawak will be back on the Singapore shelves next month with the resumption of exports by a local company after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Borneo Eco Fish Sdn Bhd managing director Thomas Hii said 10 tonnes of the fish were scheduled to be shipped to Singapore's Sheng Siong Supermarket on July 31.

"This is a significant moment as we resume our export of tilapia to Singapore. We used to supply the fish to Sheng Siong but stopped during the Covid-19 period.

"With this shipment, the tilapia will likely be in the Singapore market in August," he told a press conference here on Wednesday (July 26).

Hii said the resumption of exports was facilitated by Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (Statos), which had conducted trade missions and linked the company with buyers again.

He said the company also received assistance from Statos to market the tilapia with its own Borneo Eco Fish brand and logo.

"Previously it was up to the supermarket to brand it. From this delivery onward, Singapore consumers can see our brand on supermarket shelves," he said.

Statos chief executive officer Chew Chang Guan said the office was ready to help Borneo Eco Fish and other Sarawak products enter the Singapore market.

"We are excited to see Borneo Eco Fish coming back to Singapore, where Sheng Siong is very supportive of the product.

"We are also looking at other markets, including restaurants and other players who want quality fish from Sarawak," he said.

Chew added that Sarawak companies could apply for Statos' promotion assistance scheme to bring their products to Singapore.

"It offers a matching grant of up to S$10,000 (RM34,350) to help suppliers compete with other products in Singapore and penetrate the market more easily," he said.