Mrs Pany Yathotou and HRH Princess Sirindhorn cut a ribbon to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Houayson-Houaysua Agriculture Service and Development Centre on Friday. – Photo Sangkhomsay

Thai Princess marks 30th anniversary of Agricultural Development Centre in Laos

Lao Vice President Mrs Pany Yathotou and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand on Friday co-chaired an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the Houayson-Houaysua Agriculture Service and Development Centre in Vientiane.
HRH Princess Sirindhorn came to Laos in response to an invitation from Mrs Pany, aiming to further strengthen the longstanding friendly relations and cooperation between Laos and Thailand.

Mrs Pany Yathotou and HRH Princess Sirindhorn visit the product exhibition at Houayson-Houaysua Agriculture Service and Development Centre.

This is the first visit to Laos in six years by the Thai Princess. Her visit is viewed as a significant contribution to strengthening the friendly ties, mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
Vice President Pany and Princess Sirindhorn cut a ribbon to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Houayson-Houaysua Agriculture Service and Development Centre and visited the centre’s product exhibition and learning building.
They also heard about a plan to build a new auditorium, met some of the centre’s model families, visited a crop growing area in Naxaithong district, and planted a tree to commemorate the occasion.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Phet Phomphiphak highlighted the significance of the Houayson-Houaysua Agriculture Service and Development Centre, which he said was a special cooperation project between the heads of states of Laos and Thailand.
The centre, which is supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, is a hub for technical cooperation in agriculture. It teaches farmers, business operators and students about the theory and practice of farming crops and animals, with a view to encouraging them to farm a larger variety of species. 
The facility has become a model in agricultural education, as well as producing and supplying resilient crop seeds, which has enabled more people to earn a regular income through farming so they can rise above poverty.
Princess Sirindhorn also visited the ethnic and cultural school at km 67, which has received various forms of assistance from a project supported by the Princess since 1992.
The Princess also funded the construction of a teachers’ office and a women’s dormitory and provided teaching equipment, with a total value of more than 2.7 million baht. During her visit, the Princess presented gifts to five outstanding students at the school.
On the same day, Princess Sirindhorn met with President Thongloun Sisoulith to discuss the friendly relations between Laos and Thailand.
The President said he highly valued the Princess’s visit, adding that it further consolidated the cooperative relations between Laos and Thailand since the two countries elevated their bilateral ties to a “Strategic Partnership for Growth and Sustainable Development”.
The President, on behalf of the government and Lao people, thanked Princess Sirindhorn and the Thai royal family for their support of various projects in Laos.
The Princess said she had enjoyed her visit Laos and praised the continuing development in the country, expressing the belief that bilateral ties would grow even stronger in the future.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update January 15, 2024)