YANGON - Western trade embargoes imposed on the South-east Asian country Myanmar since the late 1990s was supposed to penalise its former military rulers for years of misrule and human rights concerns. But the people suffered far more than the regime alone, and many lost crucial jobs that could financially sustain entire families. Myanmar simply needs more jobs.

On Monday 24 April 2012 the European Union announced the suspension of most sanctions against Myanmar for one year while it assesses the country's evolution. At the same time the EU will introduce a system of GSP, which allows Myanmar to export ready made garments to Europe without any import duties.

 "For us, it's simple. This means new job opportunities for our people," said Mr Myint Soe, who also chairs Myanmar's Garment Manufacturers Association. "We're hoping for new contracts, new orders ... we're hoping to open more factories."

 Mr Myint Soe said Myanmar's return to the GSP could yield as many as 25,000 new jobs in the textile industry alone this year.

For garment factory workers who make US$75 per month or less, the eventual end of sanctions will be a big deal.

"Myanmar is capable of producing T-shirts, sweaters and woven items like shirts and pants. To start getting ready for export, Myanmar should start producing easy and competetive priced basic items", says Mr De Leeuw from the Dutch company Toptextile. "Everybody in garment production as well as all the brand retailers in Europe, are looking at alternatives for the expensive production in China. Of course Bangladesh is a real option, but it can never absorb a substantial shift in produciton from China into Bangladesh. Cambodia is considered by many as another option, but the production capacity is simply not there. We think that Myanmar has a great potential worth to explore immediately.