SMART Myanmar – a EU funded project - is organizing trade fair visits for the top management representatives from Myanmar Factories together with sequa gGmbH. Sequa leads a consortium of partners with the objective to improve the sustainable competitiveness of the Myanmar garment sector.
The trade fair visits will provide excellent opportunities to access opinions from different buyers & suppliers and determine market potential, conduct research and evaluate the participating companies by visiting 2 major garment and textile trade shows in Paris and Berlin, Tex World and Asia Apparel. The agenda also includes exploration of retail shops for market surveys, trainings conducted by Messe Frankfurt and a seminar for the delegates on social compliance.
It is a fortunate mix of trade fairs for the factories as our selected delegates will get to meet potential suppliers in Tex World, Paris and it should provide them with better encouragement to switch to a Free-on-Board production (FOB) approach. Even though other factories restrict such a shift, the Asia Apparel Expo will give them a chance to learn from others’ experience, as well as how to promote 100% “Made in Myanmar” garments, and in particular how to run an exhibition.
The SMART Myanmar delegation will consist of 12 top management representatives and one SMART senior project manager as well as two sequa experts to accompany the group. The selection of the delegates is based on 1) Interest to export to Europe 2) Openness to participating in previous social compliance trainings and consultancies offered by SMART Myanmar and 3) The SMART team’s assessment of how effectively factories have implemented improvements to working conditions in their respective companies.
This visit will also be supported by CBI, the dutch government agency of trade promotion with developing countries. CBI has been coordinating with SMART Myanmar in different activities to improve the Myanmar garment industry. A CBI expert will meet and guide the delegation during their visit of Tex world in Paris.
During the visit, Messe Frankfurt will conduct training on how to penetrate the global market, how to approach and select buyers and communication skills about trade fairs. sequa will conduct e a seminar for the delegates on social compliance and sustainable management as a follow up of the compliance academy already conducted in Myanmar and for the implementation of the voluntary Code of Conduct of Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA).
Myanmar factories will also have a chance to present themselves with their own company profiles to Germany buyers during a B2B meeting that is jointly organized by sequa and German Fashion Association. "We aim to create business contacts and market opportunities for Myanmar’s garment producers" – says Simone Lehmann, SMART Myanmar Project Director.
"Exhibitions provide a unique and unrivaled networking platform for both suppliers and buyers. They help in promotion, marketing and publicity efforts of participating companies so we wish to give this message to the delegates." – says Natalie Roy, sequa expert who accompanies the delegation in Europe.
