With the common objective of promoting sustainability, inclusivity, productivity and competitiveness in the agriculture sector, EuroCham Myanmar (EuroCham), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are collaborating in convening the Agrobusiness Forum 2019, focused on promoting good agricultural practices and responsible supply chain management among agribusinesses operating in Myanmar. The event will take off in Nay Pyi Taw on December 12, 2019.
The objective of the Forum is to provide a platform for agrobusiness representatives and Myanmar policymakers to openly discuss challenges and opportunities in implementing good agricultural practices and due diligence in supply chains, including practices related to trade and finance, labour rights and decent work, land issues, technologies and food safety, in Myanmar’s agricultural sector. Initiatives and concrete action items will be discussed to support collaboration and knowledge sharing mechanisms.
Through this Forum, businesses will learn about the leading international standards and tools available to companies to implement good agricultural practices leading to enhanced sustainability, inclusivity, productivity and competitiveness. The Forum itself will promote sector collaboration, transparency and policy coherence by facilitating dialogue among stakeholders – including national and international enterprises, employers and workers and policymakers in Myanmar.
Specifically, this Forum will seek to:
• Raise awareness of participants on challenges and opportunities in Myanmar’s agricultural sector, particularly on how good agricultural practices can improve competitiveness and access to new markets.
• Facilitate dialogue among agrobusiness stakeholders – including national and international enterprises, employers and workers – and policy makers in Myanmar on agricultural supply chain issues to promote policy coherence, collaboration, and transparency in governance of the agricultural sector as well as to collaboratively address negative impacts in global supply chains.
• Highlight lessons learned and key findings to help businesses transfer international standards on responsible business conduct and sustainability, including decent work, into concrete business practices and measurable action.
The roundtable session will be an opportunity to develop recommendations and follow-through actions that will help businesses transfer international standards on sustainability and decent work into concrete business practices and measurable action. Around 150-200 participants are expected to attend, including policymakers from the Government of Myanmar, business representatives active in Myanmar’s agriculture sector, employers and employee organisations, international and civil society organisations.
