Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – On March 12, a high-level international delegation visited Saikong Province, Laos, focusing on the effectiveness of the local school meal program and reviewing the province's progress in strengthening food security and promoting nutrition improvement initiatives.
The delegation was led by Marc-André Prost, Country Director of the World Food Programme in Laos, and included German Ambassador to Laos Hans-Ulrich Suderbeck and French Ambassador to Laos Benedict Deschamps. During the visit, the delegation met with Saikong Provincial Governor Khamthi Siravonsak to exchange views on the progress of the integrated nutrition and food security program.
It is understood that the core objective of this visit was to assess the implementation of the school meal program in Saikong Province. This program not only provides local primary school students with nutritious daily meals to support their healthy growth, but also effectively supports the development of the local agricultural supply chain by establishing stable sales channels for small farmers, achieving a two-way empowerment of education and rural development.
Governor Khamthi Siravonsak of Saikong Province warmly welcomed the delegation and expressed sincere gratitude to international partners for their long-term support and cooperation with the province. He emphasized the crucial role of the school meal program in improving student attendance, consolidating school retention rates, enhancing learning outcomes, and improving student nutrition, particularly in remote and impoverished communities.
According to the Saikong Provincial Government, the school meal program currently covers all three districts of the province, directly benefiting 2,022 participants, including primary school students receiving hot meals daily, small farmers supplying fresh local produce, and education officials responsible for coordinating and monitoring the program.
During the meeting, both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on further strengthening cooperation, focusing on key areas such as expanding the scale of local food procurement and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project. The delegation reiterated its continued commitment to supporting the Lao government in improving children's nutrition and raising the livelihoods of rural residents through various community initiatives.
