Stories

Myanmar companies make headway at international food fair

15 June 2022
ITC News

Ayar Thuka San, a Myanmar company is now in the process of finalizing a deal for supplying pulses to a regional buyer. This opportunity to do international business was seized at the recently concluded Thaifex-Anuga Asia 2022.

Twenty companies from Myanmar participated in this prominent international food fair that attracts buyers and traders from the global food and ingredient related industry.

This year, after emerging from COVID-19 lockdowns, Thaifex was back in full swing with a hybrid edition, which was an opportunity for selected companies producing and processing fruits, honey, beans, pulses, and oilseeds to showcase their product offering to regional and international buyers.

Value-added products with quality labels, organic certifications, canned produce, dried, frozen and pureed forms from Myanmar are in demand, creating bright prospects for producers from the country.

Visitors from ASEAN countries, Japan, Korea, and the Middle East and representatives of firms from the EU and the USA expressed interest in the products from Myanmar on display at the fair.

The Chairman of the Mae Hong Son Chamber of Commerce, Thailand, visited the Myanmar booth expressing his strong interest in fostering formal border trade between Myanmar and Thailand.

Japanese buyers with a preference for unique texture were attracted by Myanmar monofloral and specialty honey that they tasted at the fair with enthusiasm about future business.

Business Support Organizations (BSOs) also sought partnerships with Myanmar companies.

The European Union funded ARISE Plus Myanmar Trade-Related Assistance Project supported the participation of Myanmar companies at the fair where 140 leads of approximately five million USD were achieved over four days, offering a good platform for further follow-up action which is expected to materialize in business.

The project has been supporting Myanmar small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve competitiveness and diversify their export base since 2019. It aims to contribute to inclusive and sustainable growth. It supports greater connectivity and economic integration between Myanmar and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in line with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025. The project contributes to trade diversification and integration, regionally and internationally with a focus on market-led value chains.