QuangNam (VNS/VNA) - After four years of preparations, the NationalOffice of Intellectual Property of Vietnam has granted GeographicalIndication (GI) to the Cham Islands bird’s nest products.

The Hoi An city People’s Committee, which has jurisdiction over theislands, said the product contributed 20 percent to the city’s Gross RegionalDomestic Product (GRDP) annually.

A report from the Ministry of Science and Technology said the bird's nestsare seen as one of the best products in Vietnam due to their high nutritionalvalue with 50 percent protein.

The year-round cool climate and well-protected terrain on the islands naturallycreate the best quality for the salangane product, the report unveiled.

The GI recognition will help improve the product's brand and protect it frombeing mixed with other bird's nest products from Khanh Hoa and Binh Dinhprovinces.

The management board of bird's nest production on Cu Lao Cham Islands saidthe exploitation of birds’ nest earned 1.3 tonnes of raw product worth 80billion VND (3.5 million USD) per year.

Currently, a kilo of bird's nest costs from 1,000 to 6,000 USD.

Hoi An is focusing on traditional production of the islands’bird's nest products to create luxury products rather than massindustrial processing.

Last year, the city established a rescue centre in Mui Dua Cave in an attemptto rescue the thousands of baby swallows that fall from their nests each year.

April and August is the main time of bird's nest collection at three caveson three islets of Kho, To Vo and Ca of the islands.

The GI recognition also covers the brand protection and labels product fromdifferent caves on eight islets.

Accordingto the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam’s bird's nestexports are expected to swell in the coming year.

Forty-two out of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam participate in theswift breeding industry with a total of 20,000 birdhouses and an annual volumeof approximately 120 tonnes, worth about 450 million USD./.