EU funded project Smart Myanmar to boost garment export sector

Smart Myanmar is an EU-funded Switch Asia project focused on making social and environmental improvements in Myanmar’s garment industry. An EU project aimed at boosting Myanmar’s garment export sector has started its second phase with EU funding of €2.8million to the end of 2019.

In its first phase it worked with local garment factories on social and environmental compliance issues, providing technical support and capacity building for local trade bodies. It also helped the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA) increase staffing and drafted a first-ever Code of Conduct for garment exporting factory members.

The next stage of Smart Myanmar will see the expansion of previous activities as well as new work promoting sustainable production and “transparency in procurement practices in Myanmar” – a county where more than a dozen major apparel brands, including GAP, H&M, Primark and Adidas are now sourcing.

The move towards greater transparency in Myanmar – should it transpire would be a welcome one. Simone Lehmann, project director, Smart Myanmar, said that the garment sector has quickly become Myanmar’s main export sector after oil and gas.

The value of exports has more than doubled in less than two years and is projected to continue to grow almost exponentially for the next several years. The growth of the garment sector will contribute to the growth of the industrial sector and create many new jobs.

Continuing to work closely with Myanmar factories and the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association, aim of the Smart project is to actively promote and support the sustainable production of garments ‘Made in Myanmar’ striving to increase the international competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in this sector.

Smart supports local companies meeting the consumer requirements in Europe for products that are good for the environment and for the people.
It also aims at scaling-up and institutionalizing successful practices in Myanmar which were developed and implemented during Smart’s first phase from 2013 – 2015.