VIENTIANE, LAOS: Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn arrived in Vientiane on Sunday (25 Nov) for a four-day official visit to Laos from 25-28 November.

Her Majesty paid a courtesy visit to President Choummaly Sayasone at the Presidential Palace, followed by a visit to the Houaysone-Houyasoua Agricultural Development and Service Project in Nayang village in Naxaithong district, Vientiane, where the project director,Anoulom Tounalom, described the activities there.

The project, supported by Her Majesty's Xaipatthana Foundation since 1994, undertakes agricultural research and provides services of all kinds to farmers, including technical expertise for animal breeders.

Anoulom said the foundation had sent agricultural technicians, equipment and regular funding to the project worth a total of about 4 million Thai baht per year on average.

He said that since the project was introduced in the nine target villages, with a combined population of 8,859 people, locals have been enjoying better living conditions; one family is now earning about 20 million kip per year, compared to just 200,000 kip in 1994.

The project is the result of a request from the late President Kaysone Phomvihane when he went to the Houayhongkhai Agricultural Development Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand, some time ago, according to Anoulom.

On this visit, Her Majesty presented project workers with a tractor worth 225,000 Thai baht.

Her Majesty then visited an orphanage at Km 67 in Phonhong district, Vientiane province.

According to a report from the director of the orphanage,Khamvai Thongthimahaxay, the school was built in 1976 and has accommodated 2,804 orphans from around the country.

So far, there have been 25 graduating classes of a total of 2,054 students in their last year of upper secondary school. Currently, the school houses 750 students.

The school has had royal support since 1992, and has regularly cooperated with Thai officials to improve the living conditions of the students, particularly through health check-ups, nutrition-based activities, new school buildings and dormitory restoration.

The support has included income-generating activities such as animal husbandry, involving pigs, fish and cattle, and crop planting.

The school has also received training on how to make products for sale to tourists so that students can earn a small income.

On her visit, Her Majesty Sirindhorn presented educational funding of 51,600 Thai baht, as well as textbooks and sports equipment to the school.

Her Majesty Sirindhorn then travelled to Khammuan province by helicopter to visit the Sikhottabong Stupa, where she performed religious rites and donated 200,000 Thai baht to the temple.

Her Majesty Sirindhorn later visited the Ethnic School in Thakhek district, Khammuan province. (The Vientiane Times/ ANN)