The Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA) is appealing to all factory owners, managing directors, members, and business entrepreneurs for cash donations to assist those in need of “help and support” following the earthquake.
The association highlights that individuals in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, and the Sagaing region require urgent help and indicates that it has collaborated with sister associations to facilitate this effort.
It encourages its members to contribute money in a “round-robin manner” and to “arrange these donations as quickly and efficiently as possible,” either through the association or in conjunction with partner organizations.
The MGMA is requesting that its members send cash donations directly to its headquarters in Yangon by Wednesday, April 2.
Aye Mi Shein, MGMA’s managing director, informed Just Style that on an international level, the organization is currently receiving assistance with its rescue operations from global entities in the UK, US, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, India, and China.
However, Shein adds: “We still need to cover many areas to support by immediate assistance.”
The Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association also announced that it recently held a seminar on the ‘Current Situation of Myanmar’s Garment Sector,’ where participants observed a moment of silence to honor the victims of the recent earthquake.
During the seminar, U Aye Win, Chairman of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), made opening remarks, and U Myint Soe, Chairman of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association, delivered a keynote address regarding the garment industry sector in Myanmar.
U Aye Tun, Chairman of the Myanmar Industries Association, provided a keynote message on CMP (Cut-Make-Pack) businesses in Myanmar, while Daw Khine Khine Nwe, Secretary General of UMFCCI and MGMA, presented “The Current Situation of Myanmar’s Garment Industry and CMP Businesses.”
The seminar saw attendance from the Chairman of UMFCCI, Chairman and Secretary General, executive committee members of MGMA, KOGAM, CTGA, JGMA, representatives from MGMA’s member factories, and representatives from MIA’s member factories.
He remarked: “About 95% of the facilities have been built within the previous 10 to 15 years or less, so the build quality is generally quite decent.”
He expressed his belief and hope that the factories and their workers in Yangon, Bago, and Pathein were likely unaffected in their workplaces.
However, he pointed out that the families of workers were likely to be significantly impacted, as much of the industry’s workforce originates from regions near the earthquake’s epicenter in middle Myanmar.
“I encourage retailers sourcing from Myanmar to explore what measures they can take to support the families of the workers in their supply chain, as many of them will have houses to repair, and some may have suffered losses,” Clere stated.
“There are a handful of larger factories in Mandalay and the surrounding areas that produce for international export markets. Those factories might have been severely affected. There are several hundred small family textile mills that produce cotton fabrics and garments for the local domestic market, and I fear many of them would have been severely impacted, as many of those cottage industry facilities are located within 50 km or so of the epicenter. We don’t have news from them yet.”
