A European Union (EU)-funded programme, SMEs for environmental Accountability, Responsibility and Transparency (SMART), was launched in a bid to develop Myanmar’s small and medium enterprises and increase their competitiveness.

SMART under EU’s “Switchasia” programme, will run for three years, concluding in December 2015. It aims to establish a group of around 25 Myanmar garment manufacturer to use as “showcase companies” and develop their businesses to ensure that they are sustainable and in line with EU standards. The programme launch was hosted at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) headquarters in Yangon and was attended by U Myint Swe, chief minister of Yangon Region, Dr. Maung Maung Ley, vice president of UMFCCI, Alasdair MacDonald, Charge d” Affairs of the EU office in Myanmar, as well as a host of representatives from organizations working project.

Simone Lehman, project manager for sequa, one of the leading partners in the project, said SMART will have a particular focus on ensuring Myanmar garment factories and businesses develop Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) awareness. There has been a recent surge in interest in Myanmar’s garment industry since the easing of sanctions, helped by its lower labour costs offering as much potential, experts say, as neighbouring Bangladesh which is the world’s second largest garment producer behind China.