CCI France Myanmar, the French Myanmar Chamber of Commerce, organised the first edition

of its Young Entrepreneurs Awards, which were given during the Makers Night 2018, on Friday 7th

December 2018, at Novotel Yangon Max, under the high patronage of H.E. Mr. Christian Lechervy,

Ambassador of France to Myanmar.

The Young Entrepreneurs Awards 2018 rewarded 3 start-ups operating in Myanmar, among the 23

companies who registered to the competition.

The Public’s Choice Award went to the fashion and design brand Yangoods, which has been chosen by

voters on Facebook, who had to select and “like” their favourite company on CCI France Myanmar’s page.

The Innovation Award and the Success Story Award were chosen by a jury of 8 professionals, who studied

the files sent by the contestants, who pre-selected 6 finalists, and who listened to their pitch, and who

finally selected the winners just before the beginning of the ceremony, on 7th December.

This jury, Presided by Daw Win Win Tint, CEO of City Mart, and co-Presided by Mr. Serge Pun, Chairman

of SPA Group, dedicated much effort and time to make sure that the finalists and the winners met all the

criteria and respected all the rules, before making their choice after careful consideration.

The jury also included Mr. Hayri Devrim Cöbek, General Manager of Nestlé Myanmar, who generously

sponsored the Young Entrepreneurs Awards.

The Innovation Award was given to Zingo, a company who has developed oral care products for betel

chewers, which have passed clinical trials both in the United States and in Europe. Their products could

dramatically improve the health of people consuming betel.

The Success Story Award went to Pro Niti Travel, a travel agency which has demonstrated great resilience

and stamina when facing adversity and difficult times, and which has managed to develop to become one

of the best agencies in Myanmar according to grades on Trip Advisor.

All 3 winners will benefit from free services provided by CCI France Myanmar, Akhuka Productions and

Golden Telecom (GTMH), in addition to the notoriety that the awards will provide to them.

These 3 Awards were announced and given on stage by the jury during the Makers Night 2018, on 7th

December 2018, at Novotel Yangon Max.

This event, which refers to the “Makers” movement of entrepreneurs around the world, aimed at

supporting all the young professionals in Myanmar, who are struggling to create and develop their

companies. These young entrepreneurs, spend all their time and the few resources that they have to

develop their project, with very limited financial and material means, sometimes in isolation.

Mr. Guillaume REBIERE, Executive Director of CCI France Myanmar explains that they “decided to launch

the Young Entrepreneurs Awards and to organise the Makers Night to promote them, to give them

visibility, to help them communicate their ideas and find partners for their projects.”

“We truly believe”, he continues, “that these dynamic and inventive young entrepreneurs, are building a

brighter future for the country. They are the ones making the Myanmar of tomorrow and they deserve

our full support to overcome all the challenges that they face in their adventures.”

For this reason, the French Chamber organised the Makers Night in partnership with one of the leading

incubators in Myanmar, One To Watch, which invited several start-ups to exhibit and present their

projects to the participants of the Makers Night 2018.

“Most of all”, declares Ms. Sarah Lubeigt, “the Makers Night is a celebration of the magic of

entrepreneurship, of what they manage to build and create with limited resources and sometimes nothing

but their energy”.

And indeed, the Makers Night was magic, since it also gave way to performances by the internationally

awarded Singaporean illusionist JC Sum, to a raffle with free Air France tickets to Paris to win, and to a live

disco concert by Where is Charlie?.

The event is only a small part of the services that the French Chamber has started to implement to support

entrepreneurship in Myanmar. Indeed, in addition to offering trainings, to organising networking events,

and to creating a Young Entrepreneurs Committee, CCI France Myanmar is also working on an

Entrepreneurs Guide to Myanmar.

This publication, which will be accessible for free to anyone, will come in addition to the Myanmar Salary

Survey and to the Human Resources Guide to Myanmar, that the French Chamber as already published

this year.

The Makers Night 2018 brought together 200 representatives of the Myanmar business community,

international and Myanmar groups, and young entrepreneurs.

It was sponsored by Nestlé Myanmar, Total E&P Myanmar, Novotel Yangon Max, Air France, Archetype,

Bred Bank, Carlsberg, JM Wine, L’Oréal and Servier.