DaNa Facility, Myanmar social enterprise, Myanmar Artisan’s and international NGO Turquoise Mountain will fund a new investment of over $ 750,000 to support traditional Myanmar textiles and weavers industry in next two years

Myanmar social enterprise, Myanmar Artisan’s, international NGO Turquoise Mountain and the DaNa Facility, a UK Government Department for International Development (DFID) funded programme has announced an investment of over $750,000 during the next two years into the Myanmar traditional textiles industry. The investment will initially take place in Kachin, Chin and Shan States but by the end of the programme will spread to other States in Myanmar.

 Myanmar is overflowing with rich, and diverse textile traditions that continue to live on through highly skilled weavers. The Myanmar Artisans project, through training, product development and forging better links to higher value markets, will use these traditions and skills to improve the livelihoods of women and underserved groups in the sector.

It will work across the country, with an initial focus on the textile traditions of Kachin, Chin, and Shan States. It will also establish a central ‘cut and sew’ workshop in Yangon’s downtown area, keeping a crucial part of the tradition within the country, as well as focusing on product development and quality control.

The Head of the DFID, Dr Gail Marzetti, while visiting Myityina the capital of Kachin State said,

"DFID and the British Government want to work in States and Regions across Myanmar to support new innovative businesses and ensure that all areas of this great country benefit from investment and economic growth. Investing in new models of inclusive business in sectors such as textiles, agriculture and financial services has the potential to help transform the Myanmar economy, creating jobs and raising incomes.

"We are funding this programme because we believe that it is important that the traditional textiles of Myanmar continue to thrive and succeed in the future.  We are supporting projects like this across every region of Myanmar because we believe that it is through responsible and inclusive growth that a country becomes truly prosperous."

Myanmar Artisan's is already supporting hand weavers in Kachin and has a local Regional Coordinator in place to drive activity forward. During her visit, Dr Marzetti will also meet regional government officials at the Government Weaving School and visit one of the first weaving workshops the DaNa Facility is working with.

(Myanmar Business Today: https://www.mmbiztoday.com/articles/new-investment-support-traditional-myanmar-textiles-and-weavers )

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