Myanmar fruit and veg women’s rep travels to the US for economic forum

15 September 2019
Myanmar fruit and veg women’s rep travels to the US for economic forum

This week, Sandar Myo, representing the Myanmar Fruit, Flower & Vegetable Producer & Exporter Association (MFVP), joins a group of women - and one man – from 18 countries traveling to the United States as part of the Women's Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative established by the White House.

"The Myanmar economy is based on agriculture and food where women are essential players," Sandar Myo said, according to a press release, noting, "Increasing women's participation in economic growth will stabilize societies." 

She added, "Together, we can make a difference!"

Sandar Myo is the Secretary General of the MFVP. In this capacity, she is the leading coordinator of operations for fruit and vegetable supply chains in Myanmar. She works to strengthen fruit, flower, and vegetable producer groups across the country, promoting the production of certified, high-quality fruits and vegetables so that Myanmar farmers can diversify their markets and improve their livelihoods. She also promotes trade and policies that improve business conditions for fruit, flower, and vegetable farmers across Myanmar.

Sandar Myo is joining an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on overcoming the cultural and legal barriers to women's economic participation. The 18 participants represent leaders in both the public and private sectors from around the world, including Myanmar, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Republic of Kosovo, Lesotho, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Paraguay, Philippines, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, and Uganda.

This new IVLP was created to support W-GDP with a focus on identifying and reducing the legal, regulatory and cultural barriers that constrain women’s full and free participation in the global economy. Since its inception in 1940, the IVLP has introduced exchange participants to communities throughout the U.S. from around the world. The U.S. Embassy in Myanmar sends more than 200 Myanmar participants to the United States on exchange programs such as the IVLP each year.

The participants will travel to five different U.S. cities -- Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; Kansas City; Des Moines; and New York City -- to meet with federal, state, and local governments, private companies, multilateral and non-governmental organizations, business incubators, and financial institutions to observe and discuss the social, economic, and political factors that influence and encourage women's full participation in the global economy. While in the United States, participants will develop action plans to overcome barriers to women’s economic participation in their home countries and further advance Women's Global Development and Prosperity.

The Women's Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) initiative, established by the White House and championed by Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, is the first whole-of- government approach to empower women globally to fulfill their economic potential. The W-GDP initiative demonstrates the United States’ commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment with a goal of supporting 50 million women globally by 2025.