PROJECT DESCRIPTION

ICON is working in Myanmar since the opening of the market in 2014 and is currently implementing the project “Strengthening capacities of the private sector”, which aims to improve the framework conditions and the provision of services for the integration of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) into value chains. We are improving the environment for trade and investment and promoting the integration of MSMEs into value chains in cooperation with leading companies in the sector tourism, agricultural (vegetables, tea) and agro-processing (tea). With innovations and the introduction of digital solutions in MSMEs, we foster value creation, competitiveness and market access. We are creating integrated development partnerships with the private sector and link MSMEs with leading companies to promote innovation & new business models through start-up events, tech hubs etc. The project includes furthermore innovation and digitalisation measures and is at present dealing with innovative support measures for SMEs during COVID-19.

As one example, the project supported Phandeeyar („creation place“), a Myanmar innovation lab and tech hub. Phandeeyar leverages its expertise into mobilising the tech community by creating the Open Innovation Platform – Doh Phandee. This platform was launched in mid-May and shall provide concrete and scalable solutions to the issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is achieved by identifying technical talents - so-called "ZeeKwets" - who contribute their experience to solve the problems of SMEs on the one hand and to help scale the solutions developed so that they can be widely applied in Myanmar on the other.

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