March
6, 2018
A
group of Japanese sake manufacturers recently promoted their country’s famous
rice wine in Myanmar, introducing different flavors of the alcoholic beverage.
About
10 manufacturers exhibited a total of 26 sake brands during the two-day sake
promotion event in late February at Chatrium Hotel in Myanmar’s commercial city
Yangon.
The
direct marketing campaign was organized by Japan’s Sake Export Association and
Yangon-based Asia Business Solutions Co. with the support of the Japan External
Trade Organization, Japan’s governmental trade promotion body.
To
encourage and support local production, the Myanmar government banned liquor
imports in the mid-1990s and many retailers had acquired the drinks through
connections with the hotel industry or on the black market until the government
permitted wine imports in 2015.
Haruo
Matsuzaki, chairman of the Sake Export Association, told NNA that Japanese sake
makers want to grab an opportunity to enter the Myanmar market as the country
gradually liberalizes restrictions on liquor imports.
“Japanese
cuisine and sake is quite trendy not only in Asia but also worldwide,”
Matsuzaki said. “We would like to introduce specific sake (brands) to the
Myanmar market as we would like Myanmar people to enjoy and discover the new
joy of sake.”
Aiming
to increase the presence of Japanese sake overseas, the association was founded
in 1997 by sake brewers nationwide and it has 25 members.
Nay
Linn, chairman of the Myanmar Restaurant Association, said he hopes that
meeting with sake brewers will bring direct deals with local restaurant owners,
and help the latter avoid running out of stock.
“Here,
we mostly procure sake from a small number of individual importers or indirect
import through neighboring countries like Thailand and Singapore. So, it’s a
great opportunity for us to meet directly with the Japanese sake
manufacturers,” he said.
According
to the data from the restaurant association, there are about 150 to 200
Japanese restaurants throughout the country.
Kyodo
News
Ref;
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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