Phyo/Htike San (NSS) - August 27

According to an interview with U Myint Thein, founder of Green Banana Myanmar and an entrepreneur, the production of banana fiber, which could replace imported yarn, is being prepared for a transition from handicraft to industrial-scale production, The Statesman reported.

Green Banana Myanmar extracts banana fiber and yarn from banana plants and seeks to penetrate the market by producing high-value consumer products such as towels, fabrics, handbags, and shoes.

It is reported that the relevant departments are being informed to import the machinery related to this production.

“We have been developing that business for about three to four years. The market is already well established. However, because production is still done by hand, we are not yet able to produce as much as we would like. There are still some technological and machinery requirements that need to be addressed. We also need to import the machinery from India, which is taking some time. We have submitted the proposal to the government, and once we receive permission to import the equipment, we expect to be able to expand our products more widely in the market and launch them soon. The main requirement is technology, as the necessary machinery is not yet available in our country. We will have to import the equipment from abroad, and we have already submitted the request to do so,” he said.

U Myint Thein said that if machinery is allowed to be imported, banana fiber can be produced in large quantities locally.

“If we move beyond handicraft production and into industrial-scale production, as a commercial product, we would no longer need to rely on imports for the raw material. We are working toward reaching a stage where we can produce our own yarn domestically. It would be better if we receive government approval to import the necessary machinery. This would allow us to replace imported products with locally produced alternatives and become self-sufficient through domestic production. Cooperation from the relevant ministries would make the process easier. At present, cotton yarn is mainly used in Myanmar, along with lotus yarn. Banana yarn has not yet been widely used. If we are granted permission to import the necessary machinery, we will be able to expand the domestic market for banana yarn on a much wider scale,” he said.

Since 2023, entrepreneurs from various regions and states have become interested in the high-value production of banana trees.

“As this is a long-term business, we have never given up our efforts or lost our determination year after year. As a result, our work has gradually gained recognition. Entrepreneurs from different regions and states have also invited us to collaborate, and more business owners interested in working with us have emerged,” he said. 

An MOU has now been signed to export high-value products made from banana trees to China, and further steps are being taken to enable exports.

“We have already signed an MoU, but the formal contract has not yet been signed. We expect to conclude the formal agreement around the end of August. There are still some matters that need to be negotiated, as well as the necessary documentation required for cross-border trade between the two countries. Since this is a natural product, there will be certain documents required by the other country. We are already preparing them, so the agreement should be finalized soon,” he said. –