The three-year programme, which is scheduled to commence with the new school year, will benefit around 45,000 primary school children, according to Tetra Pak.
Children at 205 schools in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay will be provided with packaged ready-to-drink, long-life UHT milk.
As well as boosting milk consumption, Tetra Pak hopes to advance the development of the country’s dairy industry.
“The school milk programme will not only improve nutrition for school children, but it will help create a milk drinking habit throughout our country. This will provide health benefits for all and benefit the development of the dairy industry in Myanmar,” said a Myanmar government official.
Initially, milk for the programme will be processed and packed in Thailand, but in time it could be sourced domestically.
“In time we hope that manufacturers in Myanmar will see an opportunity for providing UHT milk locally, supplied by local dairy farmers,” said Tetra Pak vice president for South and Southeast Asia, Rusty Kekuewa.