A fisheries university is being planned for the country, primarily to develop the fishery sector, which could eventually generate employment and help reduce poverty. The Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Ministry have submitted a proposal at the Amyotha Hluttaw, said Dr Tun Lwin, deputy permanent secretary of the ministry. The proposal hints at the opening of a university focusing on fishery activities should the state’s economic situation be favorable to the project. The matter will be discussed with the Hluttaw Affairs Committee on October 11. The proposal was approved at the Hluttaw session. We now have to discuss how to proceed from there. The biggest part now is to negotiate with the affairs committees, he told The Myanmar Times on Tuesday. Dr Win Myint, Amyotha Hluttaw, representative of No (11) constituency in Bago Region and secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development Committee, suggested to open a fisheries university in July for the benefit of long term development of Myanmar fishery sector. Moreover, it aims to create job opportunities and reduce poverty, Dr Win Myint added. The committee conducted field studies and met with technicians, entrepreneurs and fishermen. We spotted a real need. The project hopes to induce job opportunities for rural people and to reduce poverty, he said. Last year, fish exports to Thailand and Vietnam exceeded US$7000 million. Myanmar only kept over $600million of the resources. Leaders of these countries understand the importance of fisheries. They support the industry and have fisheries university. But we do not have any, he added. In this fiscal year, K8,300 million were collected from lakes (deriving freshwater resources) auctions, said Dr Win Myint. Therefore, Myanmar should open a university to expand breeding activities, he said. The project requires an array of resources: money, time, technicians and researchers, U Maung Maung Ohn, Amyotha Hluttaw representative of Ayeyarwady Region constituency No(5) said. It needs large amounts of capitals, which may pose difficulties currently. It also needs human resources and teachers. The students need to be interested in learning, he said. Japan International Cooperation Agency and Korea International Cooperation Agency provided technology to Myanmar for the exploitation of fishing resources on the long term. The proposal was approved with 139 votes in favor and 37 against on August 28.