The rattan weavers of Ban Bu Tom, a village in Surin renowned for its craftwork, are working furiously to fill orders after convenience stores and supermarkets across the country banned plastic bags on January 1.

DRIVEN by surging demand from European and South American buyers, Myanmar’s leading manufacturer and exporter of rattan, bamboo and lacquerware products plans to ramp up production and sales in the next few months, according to Stellabeth Swezin Le, director of business development at Bella Interiors Co.