Japan-Myanmar traditional snacks competition winners to receive market expansion support
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The Japan-Myanmar Traditional Snacks Competition was held from 16 to 20 January, and the 20 prize winners were allowed to open stalls and sell their products at a bazaar held on 31 January at Pearl Island in Kandawgyi Nature Park, Yangon Region.
According to the Association of Myanmar-Japan Socio-Economic Development Cooperation (AMJSEDC), there are plans to organize the Japan-Myanmar Traditional Snacks Competition annually, and prize winners will be assisted in expanding their markets both domestically and internationally.
The competition was organized by AMJSEDC to revive traditional Myanmar snacks and reduce the consumption of ready-to-eat imported products.
“We intend to hold it at least once a year. For those who have already won prizes, we will visit their shops every six months to check on them, whether hygiene standards are good or not, and whether their products are being properly prepared. After one year, we will conduct another inspection. Following that, we have plans to continue supporting them. We are carrying out everything on a data-based approach. Using this data, we will upload their information to our Facebook pages and websites and help promote them. By promotion, we mean exploring ways for them to expand from small-scale operations, such as supplying their products as desserts to tea shops or restaurants. We will work together to study how their market opportunities can be broadened. If capital investment is required, there are also plans to provide support,” said AMJSEDC general secretary U Than Naing.
At present, the prize winners have been awarded start-up capital, including two first prizes of K5 million each, together with snack display boxes, while the remaining winners received K2 million each along with snack display boxes.
Arrangements are being made to enable prize-winning contestants and Myanmar snack vendors to sell their products in the evenings along busy streets in Kyauktada Township, Yangon Region, areas frequently visited by international tourists, to attract foreign visitors. — ASH/KNN
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