The numbers of garment factories whose products are being exported to the European Union have increased by 180 within 5 years, according to  Aung Naing Oo, Director-General of Department of Investment and Companies Administration (DICA).

In 2013, there were only 22 garment factories exporting to EU but at present, the numbers has increased to 202, an increase by 180 total, primarily due to benefits brought about by the EU's Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP).

There were 24 factories—22 garment factories exporting garment to the EU, one factory (non-CMP industry) and one factory (CMP industry) before the EU’s reinstatement of GSP rights to Myanmar in 2013. At the time, these factories created more than 23,000 jobs.

After Myanmar earned GSP rights beyond 2013, the number of factories of all kinds has increased to 305—202 garment factories, 26 factories (non-CMP) and 77 factories (non-CMP garment). These factories have job creating capacity of more than 300,000 jobs. In Myanmar, 0.6 per cent in 1,000 people gets to enjoy from EU’s GSP program.

About the 60 percent of CMP garment factory, are investment from China and they are mainly exported to EU countries according to EU EAB monitoring mission held at the UMFCCI on October 30. Because of GSP/EAB rights, some foreign investors are becoming interested in the establishment of factories in Myanmar.

"Among the 65 percent of foreign investment, 60 percent is from China and they are mainly exported their products to EU," said secretary of UMFCCI Khine Khine Nwe.