This will involve Myanmar Artisans, a social enterprise, Turquoise
Mountain, a non-government international organisation and DaNa Facility,
which is under the UK Department for International Development, DaNa
Facility announced on October 10.
“The variety of hand-woven arts in across Myanmar is very astonishing.
We’re proud to support these products and ensure they reach value-added
market by cooperating with local weavers,” said Harry Wardill,
representative of Turquoise Mountain’s Myanmar operation.
The Myanmar Artisans Project, which will initially be carried out in
Kachin, Chin and Shan States and later expanded to the other states and
regions.
The aim is to improve and preserve the local textile market and improve
the global market share of Myanmar-made products. As such, the project
will include training and better market connections for local weavers so
they are able to reach value-added markets and increase their family
incomes.
At the opening ceremony of the project at Myitkyina, Kachin State,
DFID’s leader Dr. Gail Marzetti said that by “investing in textiles we
are betting that this project can play an important role for the long
term success and sustainability of Myanmar’s traditional textile
business.”
Myanmar Artisans, which is committed to preserving and promoting Myanmar’s traditional crafts, was founded in 2016.
In cooperation with international design professionals, training
courses on designing and production are being conducted for Myanmar
Artisans’ staff, interns, cooperation agencies and those playing in
handicraft sector. As a result, high-quality handicrafts are being
produced and sold to local and foreign markets.
Turquoise Mountain has worked in Myanmar from the end of 2014 with an
aim to preserve Yangon’s landmark urban heritages and re-create the
traditional craft industry. It expects to make a huge socioeconomic
impact in Myanmar by supporting vocational schools and preserving
historic heritage.