THE Minister of Livestock and Fisheries said last week that cooperation among members of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) was crucial to the development of the fisheries sector in Myanmar.

The minister, Brigadier General Maung Maung Thein, made the comments on August 11 at the closing ceremony of a freshwater shrimp farming course organised by the Myanmar Shrimp Association held at MFF headquarters in Insein township in Yangon.

The ceremony was also attended by executive members of the association under the federation.

“All the resources of the nation are meant for its citizen and every citizen has the same rights to utilise these resources, but they need to do it within the rules and regulations set by the government,” Brig Gen Maung Maung Thein said.

He said the MFF and its sub-associations were formed to help businesses work more smoothly and help solve problems in the relevant sectors.

“The associations under the MFF also act as links between one business and another, and between businesses and the government. We can also cooperate with international associations through the federation,” he said.

MFF chairman U Htay Myint said at the ceremony that the federation was slowly approaching its objectives.

“Our goal is the development of Myanmar’s fisheries sector. More people are interested in fisheries and if more and more people keep coming into the industry, it will help the development of the country,” he said.