The Myanmar Garment Industry Strategic Plan 2014-2021 laid out by the Myanmar Garment Entrepreneurs Association has set an export target of $10 billion and a goal to create one million job opportunities in the sector. The report further reveals that the export volumes for the 2018-19 fiscal year up to August 2019 have hit $4.37 billion, compared to $3.2 billion in the same period a year ago, an increase of $1.17 billion.

Garment exports have been rising annually in Myanmar, especially since 2013, when the European Union granted goods from Myanmar preferential access to the EU market under the Everything But Arms tariff scheme. The industry in Myanmar is being boosted by factors such as Thai cut-make-pack companies setting up shop in Myawaddy, Kayin State, near the Myanmar-Thai border to gain benefits from the EU’s preferential treatment for Myanmar. New factories are also boosting volumes.