KAMPONG SPEU, Cambodia, Feb. 23 (FN) — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and visiting Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on Tuesday broke ground for the construction of the Kampong Speu Institute of Technology here.

Funded by Sirindhorn, the construction is expected to be completed by 2018.

The institute will produce associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees in 15 majors, ranging from agriculture to business management, engineering and computer science.

Hun Sen expressed profound thanks to Sirindhorn for her contributions to education and health in Cambodia, saying the princess has visited Cambodia 13 times since 1992 to assist the country in the two sectors.

"The institute will greatly contribute to developing human resources in Cambodia," he said at the ceremony.

Sirindhorn said the institute will create convenience for youth in the province and neighbouring provinces in education.

"The ground-breaking ceremony today is a new symbol of continued cooperation between our two neighbouring countries," she said.

The institute is located on the parcel of 200 hectares in Kampong Speu province, some 115 km west of Phnom Penh capital.

The princess arrived in Cambodia on Monday for a 3-day visit. On Monday, she inaugurated a health center in northeastern Rattanakiri province.

=FRESH NEWS