MYANMAR is endowed with underground and aboveground natural resources. Among the varieties of natural resources, valuable timbers such as teak and ironwood, rubber dubbed as white gold and bamboo as green gold are available in jungles and systematically established forests. In fact, forest plantations provide various forest products to nearby local communities.
With regard to bamboo plantations and bamboo products, approximately 21 bamboo genera and 102 bamboo species are found across Myanmar. Most bamboo plantations can be seen on the Rakhine mountain ranges, Bago mountain ranges and other hilly areas and plains, including coastal areas. According to the bamboo resource inventory, based on the annual allowable harvest volume, approximately 318.325 million bamboo culms can be produced in Myanmar annually. Bamboo plantations have been permitted since the 2006-2007 financial year, and as of June 2026, a total of 4,815.5 acres of private industrial raw material bamboo plantations have been approved.
Some Myanmar entrepreneurs are engaged in the production of household utensils and souvenirs made of bamboo. Bamboo and bamboo products have been exported to countries including India, Pakistan, Singapore, Italy, and China. From the 2021-2022 financial year to the end of May of the 2026-2027 financial year, bamboo products such as split bamboo, bamboo poles, bamboo mats, incense sticks, and bamboo blinds were exported, generating total earnings of US$2,456,346.30.
Bamboo product industries are being operated in relevant industrial zones. Depending on the strength of workforces, micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises are focusing on the manufacturing of personal goods made of bamboo so as to attract international travellers as well as to generate remarkable incomes. Currently, foreign investors eye on production of bamboo products in Myanmar for export purposes.
To help MSME products gain access to domestic and international markets, linkages have been established with economic attachés abroad as well as domestic retail and wholesale distributors. With the support of regional authorities and relevant ministries, efforts are being made to ensure the availability of necessary industrial raw materials, machinery and equipment, and access to overseas markets for value-added bamboo products.
The Head of State himself has frequently encouraged and supported citizens and ethnic entrepreneurs to operate bamboo product industries. It can be seen that even foreign entrepreneurs have established businesses in Myanmar and are earning income by engaging in bamboo production industries. Therefore, local entrepreneurs should make efforts to mobilize technology, capital, and skilled labour resources, and successfully utilize Myanmar’s abundant bamboo resources to generate income for the country.