HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand,
Excellencies, Ladies, Lok Chumteavs – Cambodians and Thais,
Dear compatriots present here today,
Today, I have a great pleasure to be able to accompany HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony to build the Kompong Speu Institute of Technology. I have taken so much pride to come here to do this very important job for the future of our country. In the moment passed, HRH brought about some facts relating to this institute. Initially, Cambodia proposed to have only one institute of technology at the province of Koh Kong. Thanks to her wisdom, HRH concluded that youngsters in Koh Kong province could just cross to Thailand to further their education. We then discussed where the project could take place instead of Koh Kong. We then came to choosing Kompong Speu, where the opportunity would provide chance for education and training not only for those in Kompong Speu but also from provinces of Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Takeo, Kompong Chhnang and even from Kandal.
I am so pleased to see that these achievements have come from joined efforts, spirits of solidarity and understanding, and from HRH personally, in reserving heartfelt assistance for Cambodia’s education and health, after successfully transforming the College of Kompong Chheu Teal at Kompong Thom province into the Kompong Thom Institute of Technology already. HRH’s strong consideration for human resource training there has allowed more and more Cambodian students to learn and have training in Thailand. On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, as well as the Cambodian youth, who benefit greatly from HRH’s assistance, I am expressing my sincere appreciation and profound thanks for HRH in providing her assistance to the people of Cambodia, especially in area of human resource training. We should not forget that to develop a country, what one needs firstly was human resource. Thailand, which is one of our neighboring countries, has ability to assist Cambodia addressing this need.
Having said that, please allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the Cambodian and Thai working groups for choosing this strategic location, which is adjacent to the national road 44, for the construction of the institute. I just mentioned to HRH that the road is new and has yet to inaugurate. However, report has it that there are increasing volume of transportation here. The national road 4 in Kompong Speu runs through to national road 5 and it would take lesser time for people residing in this area to go to the city of Kompong Chhnang than to go back to the town of Kompong Speu. However, I am sure, the (national) road and the school will be of great interest for people of the district of Tpong, commune of Am Lang, where, in the past, there were only suffering, blood and tear (because of protracted civil war). It has now become one of the country’s developed areas, where there is also a tertiary education establishment to solve issue of human resource training.
I would take this opportune moment to express my sincere thanks for Oknha Ly Yong Phat for providing some economic concession land for the work of development in this region. I would express my sincere thanks for the Buddhist monks and people for accepting political solution and offer for land settlement and expansion. This project is for the national interest and it will stay not one or two years, but from one generation to another. We have addressed all except one among four priorities – road, electricity, human resource and water. We already addressed the need for road, electricity and human resource. We still need to find a solution for water. I hope that the committee placed with responsibility to see through the construction, the provincial authority, related institutions, mainly the Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology, to work together to find means to resolve need for water, not only for students but also for people residing in this and adjacent areas.
I am so proud of our long lasting cooperation. Taking into consideration the first trip HRH made to Cambodia in 1992, up to the present, HRH has made in all 13 visits – official and unofficial – to Cambodia in search for cooperation and provision of assistance in the fields of education and health, along with a project in Kompong Thom province relating to human resource training and the likes. Today, it is auspicious that we are laying the corner stone for the construction of the Kompong Speu Institute of Technology. There are projects concerning health in Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri privince to fight against malaria. This is going along with the Cambodian objective of eliminating malaria from Cambodia in 2025. Yesterday HRH visited Ratanakiri, one of the targeted provinces of malaria elimination.’
In HRH’s three days visit to Cambodia, there are so many activities. Yesterday, HRH went to Ratanakiri, today to Kompong Speu, Prey Veng, Tbong Khmom and Kompong Thom. The visits aim to help provide neighboring assistance for the people of Cambodia. On behalf of the Royal Government and people of Cambodia, once again, allow me to express my sincere thanks to HRH for the contribution she made for the people of Cambodia, not only for this generation but for many generations to come. I would take this opportune moment to express my sincere thanks to the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Thailand for always supporting those activities, let alone the joint Cabinets meeting in last December of the two countries. The two Royal Governments have focused on cooperation in preparing for HRH’s successful visit. I also extend thank to the Cambodian-Thai Friendship Association, where the two Presidents and some of their staff who are present. I also thank Thai businessmen who will take their time to have audience with HRH this evening.
It is true that today, HRH will continue with her schedule and after returning to Phnom Penh, HRH will visit HM the King of Cambodia. For the Kompong Speu Institute of Technology that we are laying the stone for the construction under the royal assistance of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of the Kingdom of Thailand, please allow me to take this opportune moment to wish HRH, Excellency, Lok Chumteav, Ladies and Gentlemen as well as our compatriots with the four Buddhist blessings. May the friendship between Cambodia and Thailand last always./.
