Funded by the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) and the Pork Checkoff, USMEF shared information about the attributes of US red meat and provided samples of cooked US pork and beef products.

Visitors to the USMEF booth at Food and Hotel Myanmar are given educational information on US pork and beef [Photo: USMEF]

More than 7,000 people attended the three-day trade show, which featured 230 exhibitors from 26 countries.

The USMEF booth featured local importer Marbled Black Company, representing US exporters Agri Beef Co. and Parker-Migliorini International. Norma Mier, ASEAN business manager for Johnsonville Sausage, was also on hand with product information for importers and other attendees.

US pork products on display for sampling during the show included center-cut pork loin, spare ribs, shoulder CT butt, baby back ribs and a variety of brats and frankfurters. US beef items included flat iron steak, burger patties, striploin and Nebraska Angus ribeye.

Myanmar, the northernmost country in Southeast Asia, has a population of 51 million people. It is bordered by India and Bangladesh to its west, Thailand and Laos to its east, and China to its north and northeast.

Food and Hotel Myanmar attendees sample US pork and beef [Photo: USMEF]

USMEF has been working in Myanmar – formerly known as Burma – since 2013, when an export protocol for the market was established. More recently, USMEF identified a group of importers in Myanmar in order to generate interest in a wider range of US beef and pork products.

Samples of several US pork and beef dishes were offered to show visitors [Photo: USMEF]

"The foodservice sector will be our main focus for the time being, even though we are also beginning to see a small window in the retail sector," said Sabrina Yin, USMEF director in the ASEAN region.

"Our goal is to remain visible and continue to seek opportunities in Myanmar for US red meat, while building a positive image and reputation."